Supplier audits. From qualification to production release.
Assess supplier capability before nomination and verify product and process readiness before serial production — with two focused audit approaches for two critical decisions.
Two audit gates. One connected supplier journey.
Supplier quality management runs as a sequence: selection, capability assessment, ramp-up and release. Each audit sits at a decision point, and each answers a different question.
Supplier selection and capability assessment.
Product and process preparation and industrialization.
Authorized, repeatable manufacturing of the released product.
Supplier selection
Candidate suppliers are shortlisted for the proposed business.
- Audit gate 1
Supplier Evaluation Audit
Can this supplier meet our requirements? Assessed before nomination and ramp-up.
Ramp-up / industrialization
The product and its manufacturing process are prepared and proven.
- Risk assessment — Process risks identified and rated
- Quality planning — Control plans and inspection strategy
- Process validation — Runs at rate and capability studies
- PPAP / ISIR — Approval documentation where applicable
- Audit gate 2
Product & Process Release Audit
Is this product and process ready? Verified at the entry gate to serial production.
Serial production
Released product manufactured under agreed controls.
“Before serial production” refers to the product being qualified — not to the supplier’s overall operations. An established supplier that already runs serial production for other parts still passes through a release audit for each new product or manufacturing process.
Supplier Evaluation Audit
A supplier evaluation audit supports supplier selection and qualification. It examines whether the supplier has the systems, resources and capabilities required for the proposed business — the organisational and operational side of supplier quality management, rather than one part number.
Proceed with qualification, address capability gaps, or reconsider the supplier.
A positive evaluation qualifies the supplier. It does not release any individual product — that decision belongs to the release audit.
Quality management and responsibilities
How quality is organised, who owns which decision, and how requirements flow from contract to shop floor.
Development capability and feasibility
Whether the supplier can review feasibility, manage design or process development inputs, and plan a realistic launch.
Production resources and competence
Equipment, capacity, maintenance practice and the competence of the people who will run the proposed business.
Supply chain control and traceability
Sub-supplier selection and monitoring, incoming control, material identification and traceability discipline.
Nonconformity handling and improvement
Containment, structured problem solving, corrective action follow-up and how improvement is actually sustained.
HSE and business continuity
Health, safety and environmental practice, plus the supplier's ability to keep supplying when something goes wrong.
Product & Process Release Audit
A product and process release audit checks one specific product and the manufacturing process that makes it, near the end of ramp-up and before serial production is released. It confirms that documented readiness and shop-floor reality agree.
Release for serial production, release with defined conditions, or resolve outstanding gaps before release.
PPAP and ISIR documentation supports the assessment. The audit does not automatically replace customer-specific approval requirements.
Product approval documentation
Approval records including PPAP or ISIR submissions where applicable, with status of open points.
Process flow, risk analysis, control plans
A consistent chain from process flow to risk analysis to control plan, reflecting the process actually run.
Equipment, tooling and production readiness
Serial tooling, fixtures, changeover practice, maintenance readiness and capacity at the required rate.
Measurement systems and capability
Measurement system suitability and capability evidence for the characteristics that matter.
Conformity and critical characteristics
Product conformity results, handling of special or critical characteristics and traceability of released material.
Packaging, handling and shipping
Approved packaging, protection during handling, labelling and readiness of the logistics chain.
Choosing between the two audits
| Supplier Evaluation | Product & Process Release | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Supplier capability | Specific product and manufacturing process |
| Typical timing | Before nomination / qualification | At the end of ramp-up, before serial release |
| Key question | Can this supplier meet our requirements? | Is this product and process ready? |
| Evidence | Systems, resources and operational practices | Approval records, production controls and conformity evidence |
| Decision | Supplier qualification | Product and process release |
Frequently asked questions
Two audits. Two decisions.
Start with the audit that matches the decision in front of you — qualifying a supplier, or releasing a product and its process for serial production.
Can this supplier meet our requirements?
Read the detailsIs this product and process ready?
Read the detailsBoth supplier audit types are being prepared in Qhubio. Back to the Audit module
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