Vendor Survey Plan: A Selection Strategy for JIT/TQM Suppliers

Just‐in‐time (JIT) is thought by managers to be an important key to improving operations planning. JIT can be defined as a systematic approach which minimizes inventory by having supplies arrive at production and distribution points only when needed. Reports on a study to examine a supply performance evaluation strategy for implementing a just‐in‐time/total quality management (JIT/TQM) purchasing system for a major chemical company. The innovative strategy includes a vendor survey plan (VSP) with an evaluation system and a supplier self‐assessment. Results show the average quality performance of suppliers improved after implementing the new JIT/TQM strategies.