Resources How Does Supply Chain Management Ensure Quality?
Yet when approached effectively and efficiently, supply chain management (SCM) can feed into improving quality and creating a positive, circular relationship between these two crucial aspects of production.
Ensuring that the quality of products produced by the supply chain management process meet consumers’ high expectations is a significant challenge. Quality is a key metric for assessing the effectiveness of a supply chain; therefore, SCM must involve measures to improve the quality of supplier output. In turn, these quality control measures have substantial effects that improve the efficiency of supply chains in several ways.
An optimized SCM looks at the lifecycle of every part of a product in a holistic fashion.
International supply chains are composed of many different processes and participants, and any errors or inefficiencies at any point in the chain can have cascading effects on the rest. As a result, the earlier stages of the product lifecycle are often an area of focus for SCM, as success there can cascade through the rest of the supply chain. One way to set a product line up for success is to implement quality controls at the earliest stage of manufacture: sourcing raw materials. Eliminating below-par materials as early as possible is beneficial from an SCM perspective, as it reduces costly defects down the line, and it can greatly improve the quality of the average unit produced.
Improving the relationships between a brand and its suppliers is another crucial element of good SCM.
In the ideal brand-supplier relationship, each party has some involvement in the decision-making processes of the other, and both communicate extensively to deal with issues as they arise. In a relationship like this, it becomes much easier for brands to train suppliers in the best quality control techniques for their various products, and to observe whether these are being implemented. Overall, the relationship between a brand and suppliers should be mutually beneficial and supportive.
Better quality control at every stage of manufacture can dramatically reduce the variance in the quality of individual units.
Just as effective SCM creates conditions for implementing strong quality control measures, strong quality control measures feed back into making SCM easier and more effective. One way they do this is by increasing consistency.
Better quality control at every stage of manufacture can dramatically reduce the variance in the quality of individual units. This means fewer defective units and therefore fewer outliers in the data SCM collects, which reduces the need for managers to intervene, saving time for both brand and suppliers. It also improves the consistency of delivery time and reduces the potential for delays, by eliminating what could otherwise be a major cause of errors.
Many successful manufacturing supply chains use an approach known as Total Quality Management (TQM) to bring together their SCM processes and their quality control processes. Originating in the 1950s, TQM encourages companies to focus on shifting the attitude of employees from their supply chain through to customer service. By empowering as many employees as possible to take a holistic attitude towards product quality with a focus on the customer, companies from Motorola to Toyota to Phillips have seen greater success in both their SCM and their quality management.
While TQM is the most all-encompassing expression of the relationship between SCM and quality, it is clear that any brand which develops effective SCM starts a cycle of quality improvement. Better quality control feeds into greater supply chain efficiency, which in turn frees up more resources to feed back into improving quality control further. Investing in SCM is an all-around win for enhancing quality, benefitting brands, suppliers, and consumers alike.
CleanChain, an ADEC Innovation, helps you gain visibility and insights into the chemical use in your supply chain. Want to find out more? Book a free demo with us today to find out how CleanChain can help you engage your supply chain and improve your chemical management initiatives.
ADEC Innovations’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) business advances sustainable practices around the world and helps organizations responsibly grow and operate.
Sign up to receive the latest on issues that matter.
Stay up to date with our latest thinking on transforming data into impact.
A purpose-driven provider of Global Business Services solutions that advances sustainable business and operational practices by transforming risk into positive impact and value.
Do you have a solution that would make a good addition to the ADEC Enterprise Marketplace? Fill out the form below and we will be in touch within the next 1-2 business days.
Do you have a solution that would make a good addition to the ADEC Enterprise Marketplace? Fill out the form below and we will be in touch within the next 1-2 business days.
Land Conservation & Sustainable Agriculture Training
Our training programs focus on empowering stakeholders to adopt sustainable land management, agriculture, and conservation practices.
Marine & Ocean Management Training
ADEC offers training for marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, and ocean resource management, aimed at preserving marine biodiversity and ensuring sustainable use of marine ecosystems.
Urban Sustainability & Smart City Training
Our urban-focused training programs help cities and urban projects adopt sustainability measures, enhance resilience, and implement green infrastructure.
Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency Training
ADEC provides training and education to help organizations transition to circular economy models, focusing on resource efficiency and sustainable supply chain practices.
ADEC offers expert project implementation and management support for organizations and companies creating measurable environmental and social impact. We provide hands-on management and oversight to ensure that sustainability-focused initiatives across land, ocean, urban environments, and the circular economy are successfully executed. Our services ensure that projects deliver on their impact goals, remain on budget, and comply with regulatory and sustainability standards.
Land Conservation & Sustainable Agriculture
ADEC provides management services for projects focused on land restoration, agriculture, and biodiversity conservation, ensuring sustainable practices are implemented effectively.
Marine & Coastal Restoration
For marine and coastal projects, ADEC offers specialized management services to protect ocean biodiversity and promote sustainable use of marine resources.
Urban Sustainability & Smart Cities
ADEC provides management services for urban sustainability projects, ensuring the successful execution of climate resilience initiatives, smart city technologies, and infrastructure improvements.
Circular Economy & Waste Management
ADEC offers project management for circular economy initiatives, focusing on recycling, waste management, and sustainable supply chains.
Land Conservation & Sustainable Agriculture
Our programme management services for land- based projects focus on restoring ecosystems, enhancing carbon sequestration, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Marine Conservation & Blue Carbon
For marine and coastal projects, ADEC provides programme management expertise to help protect ocean ecosystems and increase carbon capture in marine environments.
Urban Sustainability & Green Infrastructure
We support urban sustainability initiatives by managing projects that promote climate resilience, reduce environmental footprints, and improve resource efficiency in cities.
Circular Economy Projects
ADEC provides expertise in managing projects that support the transition to a circular economy, from infrastructure development to innovative technologies and sustainable supply chains.
ADEC offers cutting-edge Data & Technology Solutions designed to support impact investors in monitoring and managing sustainability projects. Our solutions leverage advanced technologies, such as satellite monitoring, IoT, blockchain, and data analytics, to provide real-time insights into environmental and social impact. These tools enable investors to make informed decisions, track project progress, and ensure that investments deliver measurable, positive outcomes across land, ocean, urban, and circular economy projects.
Land Conservation & Sustainable Agriculture Technology
We provide advanced technological tools to monitor and manage land conservation and sustainable agricultural projects, ensuring real-time tracking of environmental impacts.
Marine & Ocean Monitoring Technology
For ocean and marine conservation projects, ADEC offers cutting-edge technologies to monitor marine ecosystems and ensure the sustainable management of ocean resources.
Urban Sustainability & Smart City Technology
ADEC provides advanced data and technology solutions to help cities and urban projects enhance sustainability, improve efficiency, and build resilience against climate challenges.
Circular Economy & Supply Chain Technology
ADEC offers innovative technology solutions to drive transparency, traceability, and sustainability within circular economy projects and global supply chains.
ADEC provides policy development and advisory services to guide companies, organizations, and projects driving positive environmental and social impact. We support impact investors and their investees in shaping, implementing, and aligning policies that promote sustainability across land management, ocean conservation, urban resilience, and the circular economy. Our expertise ensures that projects not only meet regulatory requirements but also lead the way in sustainable innovation and practice.
Land Conservation & Sustainable Use Policies
We offer expert advisory to support sustainable land management practices that enhance environmental resilience and biodiversity while ensuring long-term sustainability.
Ocean & Marine Conservation Policies
For organizations committed to protecting marine environments, ADEC provides guidance on policy development that safeguards ocean ecosystems and supports sustainable marine economies.
Urban Sustainability & Smart City Policies
Our advisory services in urban sustainability help cities and urban projects design and implement policies that promote energy efficiency, climate resilience, and sustainable growth.
Circular Economy & Waste Management Policies
ADEC supports organizations in developing policies that promote circularity, reduce waste, and encourage sustainable procurement practices.
ADEC offers a suite of Impact Measurement & Reporting solutions designed to help impact investors evaluate the environmental and social outcomes of their investments. Our services are tailored to assess projects across land, ocean, urban sustainability, and the circular economy, providing transparent and reliable data that ensures measurable impact. We enable investors to track key performance indicators (KPIs), monitor progress, and report on the tangible impact of the projects they fund.
Land Conservation & Reforestation Metrics
We provide detailed measurement and reporting on land-based projects, focusing on carbon capture, water use, and ecosystem restoration.
Marine Conservation & Blue Carbon Monitoring
For ocean and marine projects, we specialize in tracking the health of marine ecosystems and quantifying carbon capture in coastal environments.
Urban Sustainability & Climate Resilience Reporting
ADEC offers impact measurement services for urban sustainability projects, focusing on energy efficiency, emissions reductions, and climate resilience.
Circular Economy & Waste Management Metrics
For circular economy projects, we provide specialized measurement and reporting on waste reduction, resource efficiency, and supply chain sustainability.
Land Conservation & Sustainable Use
We support land conservation projects by helping investee companies and organizations secure the funding they need to achieve their goals in sustainable land management.
Ocean Conservation & Blue Economy
For organizations focused on marine conservation and sustainable ocean use, ADEC offers specialized support in accessing critical funding sources.
Urban Sustainability & Green Infrastructure
Our services empower projects that aim to transform cities into sustainable, climate-resilient urban areas through access to specialized funding and investment.
Circular Economy & Waste Management
For organizations focused on reducing waste and promoting circular economy practices, we provide support to access funding and financing mechanisms.