A quality integrated strategic level global supply chain model

This paper proposes a strategic global supply chain (GSC) model that integrates critical-to-quality (CTQ) issues along with other system-based quality requirements that allow a GSC to assure product quality and safety to the primary user, preventing expensive product recall. The proposed model ensures product quality and other critical-to-business (CTB) requirements for GSCs that operate in various, multi-layered, multi-location-based suppliers and manufacturing plants by first integrating a quality-based supply management (QSM) system to GSC operations. The QSM evaluates and affiliates prospective supplier plants to supply inputs based on their performance in CTQ and other crucial quality system-based attributes. The model then integrates a CTQ-based approval process for GSC-operated manufacturing facilities that also considers CTB and standard quality management system factors. Finally, the model provides a procedure for introducing a quality monitoring process for the continuous improvement of supplier plants, as well as GSC-operated plants in its overall strategic decision making process. A numerical example illustrates the model's application among suppliers, manufacturing systems and distribution systems in a global business space.