Handling our customer document request / supplier questionnaires
Hello,
I am looking for insight on handling our customer document request / supplier questionnaires. My company has several branded products that are manufactured for us by our manufacturing partners. Several of our customers are requesting information from us that require disclosure of our manufacturer. We typically require an NDA for these purposes. My company has an extensive quality assurance and supplier verification program along with strict guidelines for our manufacturing partners that is regularly evaluated by our QA and compliance teams. We also regularly inspect our manufacturing partner facilities. I am curious to know how others handle the disclosure of information regarding suppliers/ manufacturers to customers. Do you give them the documents (3rd party audits or docs that directly correlate to the manufacturer) and additional manufacturer information once the NDA is signed or do you not disclose this and state through the company's QA and Compliance programs, we essentially take care of that aspect. I am curious to know how others handle this.
I have run across the same issue. When I request records from our suppliers and run into areas where some information may be proprietary. I simply ask to provide as much information without divulging information that may compromise an NDA. If you are audited by an accredited firm I would accept the audit certificate if I can be assured that the audit criteria addresses some of my concerns. Set yourself up so that you have the information you can share with your customers that addresses the particular risks or hazards they are concerned about. Be prepared to provide a response about how you address the customer's concerns with regard to your supplier that could be included in your HACCP Certificate of Compliance and/or letter of guarantee.
If that is the case and you have required your contract suppliers to submit to your inspections or be GFSI certified (SQF, BRc, etc) then you provide your customers with your standard audits on your facility.