White Paper: Quality Assurance for PVF Supply
ABSTRACT
Whenever industrial companies search for a Pipe, Valve and Fittings (PVF) supplier, they often don’t ask enough questions about a prospective supplier’s quality program. Sometimes they merely ask a single question: “Do you have a quality program?” with a box to check, yes or no.
Quality, however, is more than just a checked box. Quality is about safety, reliability, repeatability and profitability. Quality is vital to your company’s bottom line. The consequences of product failure in your industrial plant can be catastrophic, and rework because of a failed product wastes manpower, time and money. Selecting a low-price supplier without a robust quality program could be an expensive choice. Industrial operations require predictability and minimal disruption to the work process, which, in turn, depend on products that perform reliably. Many factors can negatively impact product quality, so you must be diligent in vetting potential suppliers to find out if they are worthy of becoming your long-term partners.
You should confirm your suppliers operate a comprehensive quality assurance program that is dedicated to supplying products that meet manufacturing specifications. They should maintain redundancies in supply and logistics, monitor their own suppliers through meticulous product testing and rigorously maintain a comprehensive Approved Manufacturers List (AML). Quality should be driven from the top down, existing as part of the overarching company culture. To find the right supplier, you must ask them to do more than check a simple box. You have to dig deeper and ask the right questions—tough questions—that demonstrate a supplier not only deserves your trust, but can deliver what you deserve most: Peace of mind.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract/Introduction. ..................................................................................3
Cost Does Not Equal Price........................................................................4
Why Quality Matters....................................................................................5
Product Quality and How It Can Go Wrong..........................................7
Transactional Quality–Repeatability and Value. ...................................10
Supplier Quality............................................................................................11
Conclusion.....................................................................................................13
