Ensuring the Supply Chain through Purchasing Controls

Building a Secure and Resilient Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

In this article, Jane Zhang, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ETCH Sourcing, and Susan J. Schniepp of Regulatory Compliance Associates (RCA), a Nelson Labs company, discuss strategies for establishing a secure and reliable supply chain early in product development. The experts emphasize that supply chain vulnerabilities often originate during development when purchasing decisions are made without sufficient collaboration across development, quality, and procurement teams.

The article highlights the importance of cross-functional supplier management throughout the product lifecycle. Development teams should work with purchasing and quality to define supplier selection criteria, establish qualification and approval processes, implement quality agreements, and create ongoing supplier performance monitoring procedures. Clear accountability and communication among departments help ensure that supplier decisions address quality, regulatory compliance, reliability, and cost considerations.

The experts also emphasize the value of treating procurement as a strategic partner rather than a transactional function. Development teams define product requirements and performance needs, quality teams determine supplier acceptability, and purchasing teams identify reliable, qualified suppliers. By establishing documented procedures, clear responsibilities, and proactive supplier relationships early, organizations can build a more resilient supply chain and reduce the risk of costly disruptions as products advance toward commercialization.

Read the full article: Building a Secure and Resilient Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Build a Supply Chain That Supports Quality From Day One

Secure supply chains don’t happen by accident they are designed early through strong purchasing controls, cross functional collaboration, and proactive supplier qualification. Regulatory Compliance Associates® works with pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to strengthen supplier oversight, purchasing procedures, and quality agreements that protect product integrity across the lifecycle.

If you’re developing a new product or reevaluating your supplier strategy, RCA can help you design a resilient, compliant supply chain from the start.

Connect with our experts: https://www.rcainc.com/contact-us/