While the problematic site resolves the issue and endures another full audit, the whole company could miss out on weeks or months of business. And with automakers looking for excuses to winnow their supplier lists, says Friscia, suppliers can't afford to do anything less than impress. On the other hand, large companies that decide to certify each site individually risk ending up with disparate systems. George Potter, president of quality software vendor Quality Systems International Inc. in Woburn, Mass., tells of one client striving for ISO certification. O thers argue that companies grumbling over the hassles of QS 9000 aren't seeing the bigger picture.
Suppliers can approach it as a tedious burden or an opportunity to improve business processes.
Those that simply go through the motions will fall be hind those that seize the chance to evaluate, improve, trim and integrate. UT Automotive, for example, is taking full advantage of the opportunity to gain competitive advantage. Over the years, we've forgotten how to think as entrepreneurs. We're trimming waste. It had been planning to invest in an intranet for some time, but QS 9000 made it happen sooner, says Niles Redden, director of systems and process management for UT Automotive's wiring systems unit.