# Presentation: 411395

## GSFC’s Supplier Assessments

- Panel Session:
*NASA Supplier Assessments:  Processes, Results and Lessons Learned*

**GSFC’s Supplier Assessments**
- Mike Kelly, Chief
- Institutional Support Office
*Supply Chain 2008 Conference*
- October 28, 2008

## Today’s Presentation

- Organization / Team
- Purpose and Scope
- Process Overview
- Approach
- Reporting
- Other Highlights

## Safety & Mission Assurance Directorate

- Goddard Space Flight Center

**Supply Chain**
**Management**
**Team**

## Supply Chain Management Team

- Mike Kelly (michael.p.kelly@nasa.gov)
- Charles Kim (charles.k.kim@nasa.gov)
- Jonathan Root (jonathan.root@nasa.gov)
- Louis Thomas (louis.a.thomas@nasa.gov)
- Vic DiMarco (victor.v.dimarco@nasa.gov)
- Plus assessors from GSFC and the NASA Contract Assurance Services contract!

## Supplier AssessmentsPurpose and Scope

- Purpose:
- Assess conformance with requirements and monitor improvements to better enable the realization of quality products and services for NASA mission projects
- Scope includes the Supplier’s implementation of:
- NASA contractual requirements, including risk management and systems safety
- Quality Management Standards (IS0 9001:2000 or AS9100,Rev.B)
- Internal processes / procedures supporting the fulfillment of requirements
- Government-Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP) Alerts
- Industrial Safety
- Each assessment is tailored (per Assessment Plan) to address applicable requirements, past findings and any NASA project management concerns

## Process OverviewGSFC Supplier Assessments

**Plan Assessment**
** **Selection Factors
- Scheduling and Coordination
-  Tailored Assessment Plan

**Conduct Assessment**
** **GSFC-led expert team
-  Strengths and Areas for Improvement
-  Reporting

**Assessment Follow-up**
** **Corrective / Preventive Actions
-  On-site Verification
-  Reporting

-  Knowledge Sharing
-   Assessment Database

-  NASA Projects
-  NASA Acquisition Processes
-  Other NASA Centers / Agencies

## Assessment Approach

- Highlights

- Assessments conducted by an expert team under GSFC Supply Chain Management leadership
- Open communication and coordination before, during and after
- Assessment Plan provided in advance for feedback / revision
- Daily debriefs and Assessment Out-Brief
*Open door* for communication of concerns throughout the assessment process
- Feedback welcomed!   -- *Supplier Assessment Team Evaluation Form*
- Focused on conformance with requirements, strengths (positive comments and commendations), and areas for improvement (non-compliances and observations)

## Assessment Approach

- Highlights - continued** **

- Assessment method employs sampling, objective evidence and professional judgment
- Coordination / collaboration with GSFC project management, other NASA centers and agencies (e.g., DCMA) and with company’s customers as appropriate
- GSFC works closely with suppliers to address assessment results and close Corrective Actions
- Assessment Report with documented findings provided for comment/response
- Corrective action responses reviewed
- Onsite (“eyes-on”) verification usually conducted

- NASA / Industry Teamwork = Mission Success!

## Assessment Reporting

- Assessment team documents non-compliances, observations and commendations during the course of the assessment
**Critical Noncompliance:**  Failure to fulfill or comply with requirements that could have serious safety and mission consequences (e.g., loss of life, serious injury to personnel, damage to high-value property, defective mission-critical product)
**Noncompliance:**  Failure to fulfill or comply with requirements
**Observation:**  A condition or process that conforms with requirements, but warrants improvement based on industry practices
**Commendation:**  A condition or process that is considered an industry benchmark
- Daily debrief with informal discussion of the day’s activities and plans for the next day
- Out-Brief with any draft non-compliances, observations or commendations presented at the conclusion of the assessment
- Assessment Report provided for Supplier comment/response
- Corrective Action responses and verification reported/shared within NASA

## Other Highlights

- Assessments support the portfolio of mission projects managed by GSFC, examining suppliers at multiple tiers of the projects’ supply chains
- Conducted 38 assessments (full & follow-up) in 2007; 39 assessments completed/scheduled in 2008
- In 2009 .... ramping-up assessments to include more lower tier suppliers
- Summary trend data from assessments available to suppliers for benchmarking analysis.

## Discussion

**Questions?**