How to Leverage Cloud Technologies in the Supply Chain

Manufacturers face many problems when it comes to collecting data and centralizing the supply chain. Changes in manufacturing such as suppliers becoming globally dispersed and outsourced have become more common. Within the decentralization of manufacturing, there are communication challenges along the way.

Lack of sufficient data becomes an issue when suppliers are unresponsive or the supplier doesn’t close the finding in a timely fashion.

The solution? Using cloud based technology to streamline operations more sufficiently of an inside-the-four-walls EQMS outward to encompass the entire supply chain.

The vision of leveraging cloud technologies to extend across the entire supply chain includes:

• Suppliers and manufacturers would abandon their adversarial stances in favor of a collaborative approach to quality. (This is already taking place. In a recent Ernst & Young study, 70% of CFOs and 63% of supply chain leaders indicated that their relationship has become more collaborative over the past three years.) ƒ
• Suppliers would input quality-related data directly into a common database. That data would be complete, standards based, consistent, accurate and time stamped. It would serve as a single point of truth for both suppliers and manufacturers, and a trusted source from which manufacturers could easily extract data for the purposes of supplier evaluation and management, as well as regulatory compliance. ƒ
• Process work flows to support quality would be standardized for all the members of a supply chain, so that it would be easy for everyone concerned with an NCMR or CAPA to understand where things stood and what action may be required. ƒ
• Bi-directional communications would be traceable. Those related to moving a process forward (e.g. reminders or approvals) would also be automated.

Achieving a supply-chain-wide EQMS with this level of integration would have been extremely complex and expensive until recently, but new approaches to outsourcing combined with new technologies are converting this vision into reality.

The graph above shows how companies were able to gain a competitive advantage by adopting the integrated enterprise approach in which the a Software-as-a-Service comes into play. Most IT professionals prefer the SaaS model for cloud computing because it is the ideal medium for collaboration on quality.

The cloud-based EQMS, in particular, shows promise for the whole supply chain to vertically integrate its processes and manage data more efficiently. Fortunately, there are SaaS providers such as Sparta Systems who are a leading provider of enterprise quality management software (EQMS) solutions.

Sparta Systems helps businesses to safely and efficiently deliver their products to market using TrackWise EQMS as a trusted standard among highly regulated industries.

Take a few minutes to self-assess your organization’s strategy to see how much vitality lives within your supply chain. You will have access to an MEP Supply Chain Optimization team member to learn more about your potential.

Source: Sparta Systems Whitepaper – Extending Control and Transparency into Supply Chains: How Cloud Technology Can Help with Supplier Quality