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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/665998
22 Service Bay then turns to the internet to research each business and begin narrowing the playing fi eld. Hunter Engineering also has found success using that formula, Meyer says. Being part of a larger entity has helped STEMCO in this area, as its parent company has access to sourcing groups in Europe and Asia that come in handy when tracking down new materi- als, Smith says. "They are our eyes and ears in the market and have a pretty extensive vet- ting process," he says. And building a vetting process might be the most important step in creating a procurement plan, manufacturers say. The best way to avoid sourcing hic- cups is avoid any company that poses a risk, says Dave McKean, Navistar vice president of procurement. A manufacturer is "only as good as their weakest link," McKean says. "If you don't put in the time up front [fi nding a source] in the tail end it'll end up costing you more money." Hoenshell says Reyco Granning uses ISO 9001 certifi cation as its baseline for supplier consideration. "If we determine a supplier doesn't have that, they aren't even considered," he says. Others manufacturers are faithful to ISO/TS 16949, and some even use both. In addition, manufacturers also each have their own procedures for evaluating possible sources on material quality, pro- duction profi ciency, safety and delivery performance. "The idea is to cast a wide net and work down from there," says McKean. Using the auto industry's Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) is a valu- able tool in this phase. Meeting PPAP standards means a supplier has proven it can meet manufacturing and quality benchmarks, understands the engineer- ing requirements of a customer order and has demonstrated said manufactur- ing process that meets expectations at a quoted rate. T R U C K P A R T S & S E R V I C E | A p r i l 2 0 1 6 FIND A LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR AT MINIMIZER.COM OR CALL 800.248.3855 MINIMIZER POLY PRODUCTS • TESTED AND TORTURED TM • DAILY BY TRUCKERS FOR TRUCKERS TESTED AND TORTURED Times change. So should you. TOOL BOXES FENDERS FLOOR MATS TIRE MASK NICE TRY NAILED IT Minimizer Poly Light Panel Guaranteed for life Typical corroded light panel Guaranteed to cause issues Untitled-19 1 3/11/16 10:14 AM If you don't put in the time up front [fi nding a source] in the tail end it'll end up costing you more money. – Dave McKean, vice president of procurement at Navistar