Development of an assessment system for supplier quality management

Purpose - This paper seeks to describe the development of a web-based system for managing and assessing suppliers, presenting the system design and interface of the prototype and discussing the applicability of the system. Design/methodology/approach - In this paper critical assessment criteria and factors for managing supplier quality (MSQ) were identified through literature review and a mail survey of manufacturers in Hong Kong. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process methodology, a self-assessment model comprising these criteria and factors was developed. Industry experts were invited to determine the relative weighting of these criteria and factors. A software was developed to support the assessment system. Findings - The findings in this paper identified criteria addressed strategic alliance, supplier development and supplier monitoring. The critical factors encompassed buyer-supplier partnership, technology and information sharing, sourcing strategies, supplier evaluation and motivation, and issues on performance measurement and improvement. A self-assessment model comprising these criteria and factors was developed. Research limitations/implications - The paper shows that in future work, more best practices of supplier management will be identified to enrich the knowledge base of the system in order to further develop the assessment system to an expert system. Practical implications - The findings in this paper were incorporated to develop a prototype web-based system for self-assessment with promising industrial validation results. Originality/value - In this paper, a novel self-assessment system was developed for supplier quality management. It is of great value for quality management theory and practice.