4 replies to this topic

[Lanser]

Hi All,

I have been using  various systems from the supplier side for a long time all the retailer systems plus some off the shelf varieties NT assure H-G, Qadex all seem top be excessively un user friendly from a supplier input spec creation point of view.

 

It appears I now need to consider using one myself for supplier management.

Does any one have any experience of a decent system that works for both sides and doesn't take 3 days to add a spec or SAQ?

 

John

[Abby7]

We are required by another manufacturer to use SafeFood 360.  When I initially had to input our documents and complete the questionnaires and risk assessments, I did find it cumbersome and somewhat user unfriendly, but 2 - 3 years on, it is now relatively painless to keep updated, and I can upload the current certifications and/or specs in a few minutes.  It took me a few tries to set up the reminder dates properly so I wasn't getting auto emails asking for current documents which were not yet available, but otherwise, it has been reasonable.

However, I can't speak from the perspective of our customer's QA department.

 

I am curious to follow this topic.

 

Take care,

Denise

[wtheriot]

We are required by another manufacturer to use SafeFood 360.  When I initially had to input our documents and complete the questionnaires and risk assessments, I did find it cumbersome and somewhat user unfriendly, but 2 - 3 years on, it is now relatively painless to keep updated, and I can upload the current certifications and/or specs in a few minutes.  It took me a few tries to set up the reminder dates properly so I wasn't getting auto emails asking for current documents which were not yet available, but otherwise, it has been reasonable.

However, I can't speak from the perspective of our customer's QA department.

 

I am curious to follow this topic.

 

Take care,

Denise

We use Safefood 360 and have for several years. This year we finally have implemented the Supplier Management module of it.

From the standpoint of creating an excellent supplier approval program it is great! We are able to build in very detailed assessments of materials, ingredients and services.

The difficult part has been getting our supplier to log into their portal and answer the the questions and upload the documents. They express frustration as to "that's not how we did it in the past". Well in the past we were drowning in incoming documents and outdated certs from them. The whole point is to collect the required data, assess it and approve or not approve. Its 2022 people, web portals have been around for decades now...do it or get dropped as a supplier. Thats our position.

 

We really like Safefood 360 as an entire HACCP/GFSI management system. Steady scoring 97's and 98's with it.

Edited by wtheriot, 23 March 2022 - 10:04 PM.

[Abby7]

I have worked on the Supplier Management side in the past, and agree with the 'drowning in incoming documents" statement. These web portals are essential from that perspective, and fully understand your position that the work has to be done or your company gets dropped.  It is basically impossible to manage more than a very few suppliers documents manually especially to GFSI level standards.

That said, from the supplier side,  their QA departments need to have upper management's support and likely extra resources as the initial data collection is time consuming.  It would have been very problematic for our company  if more than one supplier had implemented an online supplier approval program within a few months of one another.

 

All the best working to get your suppliers on board!  

[mgourley]

As another Safefood 360 user, I always appreciated the Supplier Portal functionality.

Suppliers, however do not necessarily agree.

 

Excuses I have gotten over the years range from "we don't do portals" to "all the documents are available on our website" and there are some suppliers that do in fact have great document repositories on their websites.

 

I think the root cause is that all suppliers are not created equal. Generally, mega suppliers have a team of "document request fillers" that often get you what you need. Smaller suppliers, obviously do not, and they can't or will not be able to manage a bunch of disparate portals/email requests.

 

In the era of supply chain visibility/accountability, getting the documents you require as a manufacturer is a huge problem.

 

Short answer to the OP. No.

 

Marshall

 

I can have every document that requires a review/update scheduled in Safefood 360, but if the supplier never responds to repeated requests for said document, or the person that was designated as the contact has moved on, you don't get squat.

 

It's easy to say to a suppler "you don't give me the documents I need" you are no longer a supplier. In the real world though, it's not that easy to replace that material with something else that your customer will also have to approve, or conduct testing to ensure the replacement product works as well as the stuff that they specify.