Chances are the products you sell have at least some component purchased from another company. No matter how careful your manufacturing process, if one of the components was not produced with the same level of quality, the consequences can be severe if there is a product failure.

When selecting a packaging vendor, purchasing departments are accustomed to inquiring about price and delivery times. But there are several important aspects aligned to the vendor’s quality process that should be addressed to help ensure the products used to package your products stand up to your quality standards.

Below are five key questions to ask packaging suppliers about their internal quality process. In fact, consider utilizing these questions to develop a vendor survey that will allow your company to gain a better understanding of all the suppliers from which your company sources products.

Does your company have a documented quality policy?

What it is: A documented quality policy outlines the procedures the company follows regarding quality issues like sanitation, safety, and GMPs.

Why it’s important: At a very basic level, a documented quality policy demonstrates that the supplier pays attention to quality issues. If a supplier cannot provide a documented quality policy, it may indicate they do not follow these practices in a standardized way.

Does your company have quality standard certificates?

What it is: There are several certifications available for food-related manufacturing, including SQF (Safe Quality Food) and ISO. Each of these has many stringent compliance requirements and a facility must undergo regular inspections by a third-party auditor to ensure ongoing compliance.

Why it’s important: Certification programs like SQF or ISO typically require a much higher level of compliance than a simple documented quality policy. If a company is certified in one of these programs, a third-party auditor has reviewed their adherence to the guidelines. These certifications give you an added level of confidence in the products your company uses.

Does your company have a business continuity plan?

What it is: There are many reasons why a company may experience a business interruption, from natural disasters like tornados or hurricanes to man-made hazards. A business continuity plan outlines what steps will be taken should one of these interruptions occurs. These plans cover everything from communication to employees and customers, to relocating the facility to maintain production.

Why it’s important: A business interruption can be devastating for any business. As a customer who is relying on a supplier’s products as part of your manufacturing process, it may have a tremendous impact on your business as well. The assurance that comes with your suppliers having a business continuity plan is invaluable as it would minimize the impact on the your company should a disaster occur at their location.

How does your company track and manage complaints?

What it is: A vendor should be able to provide a clear and understandable route for dealing with complaints or product issues, from order entry issues to larger concerns with product recalls.  

Why it’s important: Issues do occasionally occur, even with the most reliable vendors. A defined process of dealing with complaints insures any issues will be tracked and followed up on through resolution. Tracking complaints also allows data to be collected on reoccurring issues and may hopefully prevent new instances.

What is your product traceability program?

What it is: Especially in the food industry, manufacturers need to be able to track product through every step of production. A traceability program documents every step in the manufacturing process from raw material to finished good.

Why it’s important: If a problem should arise, it’s important that your supplier be able to tell when and where the error occurred. If the need should ever arise for a product recall, understanding where in the process the problem originated is essential to determining the scope and cause of the issue.

The purpose of evaluating a supplier’s quality and safety program is intended to ensure their manufacturing practices align with the level of quality in your process. Understanding their efforts can be as easy as answering a few key questions like the ones above.