Overview

The ESI Supplier Quality Standards is a comprehensive source for supplementing supply chain activities. The information is divided into seven web pages. Each page describes the requirements for instituting the activities of supplier development and certification, including applicable forms and worksheets.

To be successful in instituting supplier continuous improvement programs, these standards provide the means to establish quantitative analysis and benchmarking capabilities. Suppliers using these standards will be able to implement a step-by-step approach to setting up a supply chain improvement initiative. This information is not only applicable to ESI suppliers. It is also used to perform regular self-assessments of our own facilities.

Purpose

Quality is defined as "meeting or exceeding the expectations of our customers for the entire transaction." ESI delivers quality to its customers by:

• Meeting all known requirements based on specification and our knowledge of the products' use and purpose.
• Shipping as promised.
• Providing exceptional customer service.
• Quickly responding to customer needs including product replacement, investigation and corrective action.

ESI will vigorously pursue continuous improvement in quality, productivity and the total customer experience. This philosophy, combined with a safe environment and recognition of the contribution of each employee toward the pursuit of "zero defects," is ESI's formula for quality.

This web site provides continuous improvement guidelines, based on quality planning and defect prevention, for the continual development of suppliers. The concept promoting this standard is prevention. Its purpose is to define supplier qualification procedures, performance rating systems, and the certification process.

This standard in its entirety applies to all ESI suppliers.     Top

• Establish mutually beneficial long-term supplier relationships.
• Realize a significant reduction in internal and external failure costs.
• Ensure a continual flow of defect-free material received at all locations.
• Ship incoming product to its point-of-use without receiving inspection.
• Reduce inventories.
• Reduce defects.
• Improve communication with suppliers, resulting in a thorough understanding of product requirements.
• Reduce ESI's existing supply base and establish a growing list of ESI "Preferred Suppliers."
• Reduce material review and handling costs.
• Reduce quality and manufacturing costs atributed to defective part losses on production lines.
• Eliminate late shipments of purchased material.
• Support manufacturing.
• Improve profitability through waste reduction.

• Potential market share growth.
• "Preferred Supplier" status for new business.
• Realization of cost benefits.
• Improved communication.
• Continual quality improvement.
• Continual flow of defect-free material.
• Reduced inventories.
• Improved profitability through waste reduction.          Top