Improve quality outcomes with efficient trading partner collaboration
Read how the quality add-on for SAP Business Network Supply Chain Collaboration transforms collaboration on quality by automating information exchange. See how you can reduce trading partner defect rates and overall cost of quality by infusing efficiency and visibility across your supply chain. Learn how you can gain visibility into quality issues and complaints while aligning trading partners to resolve issues quickly. Download the DocumentImprove quality
outcomes with
efficient trading
partner collaboration
Successful collaboration with trading partners to
meet quality standards and quality process compli-
ance depends on both parties sharing timely quality
information, such as inspection results, deviations
on components, and work-in-process updates. This
information facilitates alignment before, during, or
after manufacturing, shipment, and invoicing—and
it is critical to supporting quality outcomes.
But today, most information sharing on quality inspec-
tions and reviews is done manually through paper, data
entry, and e-mail, processes that introduce costly
inefficiencies and human error into the quality review
process.
SAP Business Network Supply Chain Collaboration,
quality add-on transforms collaboration on quality by
automating information exchanges (see Figure 1). In
addition, a buyer can request quality certificates when
issuing a purchase order over SAP Business Network,
and a supplier can add quality certificates to advance
ship notices as required by the buyer.
outcomes with
efficient trading
partner collaboration
Successful collaboration with trading partners to
meet quality standards and quality process compli-
ance depends on both parties sharing timely quality
information, such as inspection results, deviations
on components, and work-in-process updates. This
information facilitates alignment before, during, or
after manufacturing, shipment, and invoicing—and
it is critical to supporting quality outcomes.
But today, most information sharing on quality inspec-
tions and reviews is done manually through paper, data
entry, and e-mail, processes that introduce costly
inefficiencies and human error into the quality review
process.
SAP Business Network Supply Chain Collaboration,
quality add-on transforms collaboration on quality by
automating information exchanges (see Figure 1). In
addition, a buyer can request quality certificates when
issuing a purchase order over SAP Business Network,
and a supplier can add quality certificates to advance
ship notices as required by the buyer.
2 | 3
Now your business and trading partners can:
• Create a joint record and resolution process for
quality issues initiated by either party’s quality
assurance teams across multiple quality notifica-
tions, including deviations reported by customers
and suppliers
• Perform deviation and root-cause analysis
• Request and obtain inspection results from
trading partners, obtain quality certificates,
and confirm or make usage decisions and
stock postings based on inspection results
• Collaborate on, exchange, and review quality
documents, including unstructured communica-
tions such as batch records and change
requests
• Leverage network intelligence, for instance,
to identify when to apply business rules disal-
lowing the creation of ship notices for items
with unfulfilled inspections, quality certificate
requests, or open quality notifications
Automated quality collaboration at work
With the quality add-on for SAP Business Network
Supply Chain Collaboration, trading partners on
the network have comprehensive visibility into a
work list of quality inspection requests generated
directly from your back-end quality management
system. They can enter test results for key char-
acteristics and attach quality certificates. Data
entered flows directly back to your quality
management system for review and approval.
Once it is approved, your trading partner creates
an advanced shipment notification and sends
the goods to you. This process lowers the defect
rate by identifying issues before the goods arrive,
reducing the workload on your quality department.
Quality notifications generated from your back-
end quality management system are shared
directly with your trading partners, giving them
visibility into the quality issues you encounter.
They can then review comments, attachments,
defect details, and assigned tasks, as well as
update statuses and create new tasks so you
are informed about progress on resolving issues.
This tight, automated collaboration reduces
e-mails, phone calls, and manual communication
with a trading partner in the quality process (see
Figure 2). At the same time, it reduces your trad-
ing partner defect rate and overall cost of quality
by infusing efficiency and visibility across the
levels of your supply chain.
Quality
collaboration
Purchase
order (PO)
PO
received
Goods
received
Quality
notification
Defect
recovery
Update
received
Figure 2: Comprehensive collaboration simplified
Figure 1: Quality collaboration processes on SAP Business Network
Now your business and trading partners can:
• Create a joint record and resolution process for
quality issues initiated by either party’s quality
assurance teams across multiple quality notifica-
tions, including deviations reported by customers
and suppliers
• Perform deviation and root-cause analysis
• Request and obtain inspection results from
trading partners, obtain quality certificates,
and confirm or make usage decisions and
stock postings based on inspection results
• Collaborate on, exchange, and review quality
documents, including unstructured communica-
tions such as batch records and change
requests
• Leverage network intelligence, for instance,
to identify when to apply business rules disal-
lowing the creation of ship notices for items
with unfulfilled inspections, quality certificate
requests, or open quality notifications
Automated quality collaboration at work
With the quality add-on for SAP Business Network
Supply Chain Collaboration, trading partners on
the network have comprehensive visibility into a
work list of quality inspection requests generated
directly from your back-end quality management
system. They can enter test results for key char-
acteristics and attach quality certificates. Data
entered flows directly back to your quality
management system for review and approval.
Once it is approved, your trading partner creates
an advanced shipment notification and sends
the goods to you. This process lowers the defect
rate by identifying issues before the goods arrive,
reducing the workload on your quality department.
Quality notifications generated from your back-
end quality management system are shared
directly with your trading partners, giving them
visibility into the quality issues you encounter.
They can then review comments, attachments,
defect details, and assigned tasks, as well as
update statuses and create new tasks so you
are informed about progress on resolving issues.
This tight, automated collaboration reduces
e-mails, phone calls, and manual communication
with a trading partner in the quality process (see
Figure 2). At the same time, it reduces your trad-
ing partner defect rate and overall cost of quality
by infusing efficiency and visibility across the
levels of your supply chain.
Quality
collaboration
Purchase
order (PO)
PO
received
Goods
received
Quality
notification
Defect
recovery
Update
received
Figure 2: Comprehensive collaboration simplified
Figure 1: Quality collaboration processes on SAP Business Network
3 | 3
Using this networked, automated approach to
quality management, you can reduce FTE hours
dedicated to quality management processes and
boost efficiency while improving quality process
compliance. The quality add-on also allows you
to extend your quality process to other materials
or stakeholders—all while reducing lead times,
minimizing inventory carrying costs, and achiev-
ing higher and more consistent levels of quality.
You can also increase the detection of noncom-
pliant materials faster and earlier to implement
timely preventive actions, improve quality docu-
ment control, and minimize the time needed to
handle customer complaints and product quality
issues. And if quality issues do arise, you can
address them early—before they result in cus-
tomer complaints or customer dissatisfaction.
Realize the benefits
With the quality add-on for SAP Business
Network Supply Chain Collaboration, you can:
• Reduce trading partner defect rates and overall
cost of quality by infusing efficiency and visibil-
ity across your supply chain
• Gain visibility into quality issues and complaints
while aligning trading partners to resolve issues
quickly
• Accelerate quality inspections, speeding up
transfers to unrestricted stock and increasing
on-time deliveries to customers
• Reduce manual information sharing and
standardize quality collaboration with trading
partners
• Reduce risks to brand reputation and boost
customer satisfaction
Learn more
Visit us online to request a demo or phone call.
For more information, check out this demo on
quality collaboration or watch an on-demand
web seminar to hear directly from an SAP
customer.
85247enUS (24/11) © 2024 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. See Legal Notice on www.sap.com/legal-notice for use terms, disclaimers, disclosures, or restrictions related to this material.
Using this networked, automated approach to
quality management, you can reduce FTE hours
dedicated to quality management processes and
boost efficiency while improving quality process
compliance. The quality add-on also allows you
to extend your quality process to other materials
or stakeholders—all while reducing lead times,
minimizing inventory carrying costs, and achiev-
ing higher and more consistent levels of quality.
You can also increase the detection of noncom-
pliant materials faster and earlier to implement
timely preventive actions, improve quality docu-
ment control, and minimize the time needed to
handle customer complaints and product quality
issues. And if quality issues do arise, you can
address them early—before they result in cus-
tomer complaints or customer dissatisfaction.
Realize the benefits
With the quality add-on for SAP Business
Network Supply Chain Collaboration, you can:
• Reduce trading partner defect rates and overall
cost of quality by infusing efficiency and visibil-
ity across your supply chain
• Gain visibility into quality issues and complaints
while aligning trading partners to resolve issues
quickly
• Accelerate quality inspections, speeding up
transfers to unrestricted stock and increasing
on-time deliveries to customers
• Reduce manual information sharing and
standardize quality collaboration with trading
partners
• Reduce risks to brand reputation and boost
customer satisfaction
Learn more
Visit us online to request a demo or phone call.
For more information, check out this demo on
quality collaboration or watch an on-demand
web seminar to hear directly from an SAP
customer.
85247enUS (24/11) © 2024 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. See Legal Notice on www.sap.com/legal-notice for use terms, disclaimers, disclosures, or restrictions related to this material.