Establishing a Robust Supplier Management Program

Regulatory expectations are clear about manufacturers’ responsibility regarding supplier quality oversight. All regulatory agencies agree that pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their suppliers adhere to quality standards, maintain compliance with regulatory requirements and consistently meet established expectations. Therefore, it is essential pharmaceutical and medical device organizations develop and implement a robust supplier management program.

A robust program is one that utilizes a comprehensive life-cycle approach that manages suppliers from initial qualification through phase-out. In other words, from cradle to grave. A robust, yet efficient, supplier management program is one that also utilizes risk-based methodology to determine supplier criticality and the required level of oversight.

This webinar will review regulatory guidance governing Suppliers; as well as, all the elements of a robust supplier management program; including, initial qualification, supplier performance monitoring, scorecards, supplier audit options, and quality agreement requirements. An example Supplier Management Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Quality Agreement template will be reviewed during the course.

• Part 1 – Review Supplier Management Regulatory Guidance
  • ISO
  • ICH
  • FDA
  • EU
• Part 2 – Elements of a Robust Supplier Management Program
  • Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) example
  • Quality Agreement template review
  • Initial qualification
  • Onboarding
  • Monitoring / Scorecards
  • Development
  • Phase-Out
• Part 3 – Review of Risk Analysis Tools and Recent Audit Observations
  • Review an example of FMEA classifying different suppliers by criticality
  • Review recent FDA audit observations applicable to supplier management

This webinar will also include a discussion on how to utilize risk-based quality tools to determine supplier classification. An example supplier risk assessment will be reviewed during the course.

Finally, in order to understand real-life consequences associated with non-compliant supplier management programs, recent FDA audit findings will be reviewed and discussed.

• QA Managers and Associates responsible for supplier management
• Supply Chain Managers and Associates
• Operations Managers
• Managers and QA personnel from Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOS)
• Regulatory and quality professionals working for US companies that are considering foreign suppliers
• Suppliers outside the US looking for US-based clients
• QA/QC/Compliance/Regulatory Affairs professionals

Ms. Thomas has over two decades of cGMP hands-on industry experience in both pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing operations. Her experience covers all Quality Systems; as well as, all areas of validation; including, process/product validation, facilities validation, CSV and 21 CFR Part 11, test method validation, equipment/automated processes and cleaning validation.

Utilizing strategic thinking, risk based approaches, and Lean principles, she has demonstrated success in steering and managing complex projects within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.