Currently in the process of supplier validation, i.e. getting documentation from all of our suppliers. What I need from suppliers who sell us items they produce themselves is clear to me, however I am unclear what I need from distributors, who are pretty much just a middle man in between me and their supplier. They don't produce any of the items they store, just distribute them.
I spoke to a QA contact with another company regarding this and he said proof of the distributor's own supplier validation program would be sufficient, but I have already requested this from three of our distributors and you would think I asked for the key to Atlantis -- they are all confused as to what I am looking for.
So I guess the question here is, what kind of documentation should I be requesting from distributors in terms of supplier validation? Can't really request HACCP plans and flow charts, etc., etc., as they don't produce anything, just store items.
Any feedback would be appreciated!
idealdreams