Reducing Supplier Oversight: An Analysis of Supplier Quality Assurance Practices Used by Defense Contractors and Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Winners

Abstract

This study attempted to identify the practices used by defense contractors and recipients of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award to reduce or eliminate the oversight of suppliers. A comparison of the practices used by the companies who responded to a survey questionnaire inquiring about their specific programs was made. An analysis indicates that common oversight reducing practices used by defense contractors and Baldrige winners include supplier certification programs, involving suppliers early and throughout the supply cycle, and developing and assisting suppliers in improving their performance. The research concluded that defense contractors encounter more difficulties than Baldride winners in establishing cooperative, long-term relationships with suppliers because of requirements and restrictions imposed by the Federal Government. These include rules, laws and regulations that hinder defense contractors' ability to achieve higher levels of quality.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA246056

Entities

People

  • Rolando M. Santiago

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aerospace Industry
  • Business Administration
  • Commerce
  • Contract Administration
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Literature Surveys
  • Manufacturing
  • Organizational Structure
  • Procurement
  • Security
  • Systems Management
  • Total Quality Management

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Strategic Security Studies