Product Quality Assurance (466 words)

- Set up expected quality performance measurements with each vendor before agreeing to purchase goods. Ask prospective vendors to show you their quality-audit systems. Do the plans look sound and reasonable? If not, communicate exactly what you expect and by when. Put everything in writing.

Also, ask to see samples of the goods you're considering, and give the samples to your inspectors for comparison when the goods arrive at your site. "Quality should be part of the ordering process, not an after-the-fact procedure," says Easly.