Vendors Course 2025 - Auditing and Qualifying Suppliers and Vendors Course

Auditing and Qualifying Suppliers and Vendors Course Description
Supplier or vendor qualification is a crucial component in compliance to 21 CFR 111. The FDA requires that manufacturers of dietary supplements, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech and Medical Device must “qualify” each of their vendors but do not provide guidance on how a company is to perform this qualification. Supplier qualification principles also apply to subcontracted services affecting cGMP (manufacturing steps, packaging and labeling, testing and/or calibration services, storage and distribution, etc.) Any supplier qualification program must include two critical components:
Clearly defined specifications/requirements for all of these goods or services being purchased, and;
Objective evidence to show that your requirements are being consistently fulfilled.
It is designed for those who already have a basic understanding of dietary supplement GMPs and the knowledge and skills necessary to qualify suppliers.
Since the evaluation of all types of suppliers often involves auditing, this course will incorporate a fresh look at the auditing process and the skills and techniques needed to get the most from these activities. The skills and techniques learned are independent of the type of auditing or the standard being audited and will be useful when conducting internal audits and performing audits of suppliers.
Training Agenda
Topic 1: The Benefits of Effective Supplier Management
• Key Components of a Supplier Management Program
Topic 2: Regulatory Guidance Review
Understanding Regulatory Requirements and Standards for Supplier and Contract
Manufacturer (CM) Management:
United States Food and Drug Association (FDA) regulations and guidance
European Union (EU) directives and guidelines
International Standardization Association (ISO) standards
Examples of regulatory findings
Topic 3: The Cost of Poor Quality from Suppliers and CMs:
• How to speak management’s language
Topic 4: Strategic Management of Suppliers:
• Developing a strategic plan based on your company and environment
• Risk Management – A Lifecycle Approach:
➢ Template for a risk assessment
• Topic 5: Supplier qualification
• Selecting a Supplier or Contract Manufacturer
• Obtaining information on suppliers
• Tools for making the selection
Supplier Assessments:
Desktop assessments
Supplier audits
Handling Supplier Transitions
• How to use your strategic plan to make decisions
• When to use a sole source supplier
• Topic 5 Supplier qualification:
• Building a Relationships with a Supplier or Contract Manufacturer
• Making your Supplier Quality Agreement a Great Resource:
Quality Agreement Template
• Monitoring Your Supplier’s Performance to Reduce Risks and Costs:
Template for a supplier scorecard
• Managing nonconforming events
• Partnering with a Supplier or CM for Improvement:
Tools for improvement
Why Should You Attend
The various regulatory agencies have expectations that suppliers and vendors will demonstrate control over their manufacturing processes, validations, and documentation. Quality auditing is the process of checking whether these organizations have implemented what they have stated in written procedures and whether their people are doing what the organizations procedures state they will do.
Learning Objectives
On conclusion of this course, you will have an understanding of the following:
Regulations that apply to vendor qualification (21 CFR 111)
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
Impact of FSMA on supplier qualification
Risk assessment and risk management
Supplier monitoring activities
On-site audit strategies and requirements
Managing the audit process effectively before, during and after
The consequences of noncompliance
Who Will Benefit
This intensive, practical course will be of value to those professionals in the pharmaceutical, medical device and related industries who are responsible for or involved in any interaction with suppliers, including those working in:
Management
Laboratories
Auditing
Purchasing
QA/QC
Procurement
R&D
Legal
Manufacturing
Validation
Regulatory Affairs
Documentation Management
This live training Seminar includes the following for each registered attendee:
A copy of the presentation slides by download
A certificate of participation for attendee training records
Q/A Session
Free Handouts on FDA Inspection
How to Attend:
All WCS Seminar live training programs audio and visuals are delivered via Go to Webinar with a basic system requirement of a computer with internet access. You do not require a Go to Webinar account to join WCS Seminar live training courses, participants receive an email invitation that provides the access you need to join the meeting.
Know Your Faculty
Kelly Thomas, Head Of Quality Assurance (USA)
Highly experienced Quality Assurance / Quality Control / Regulatory Compliance leader with experience in API, biologics / biotech, both aseptic and terminally sterilized manufacturing processes, medical devices, drug / device combination products, and all pharmaceutical dosages (Sterile Injectable, OSD, Controlled Substances, Aerosols).
Over 20 years’ experience leading facility start-ups, PAI and Routine cGMP Surveillance inspections. Highly successful global regulatory and ISO compliance history with inspections including FDA, EMEA, IMB, JP, Health Canada, and ANVISA. Highly committed to implementing effective contract manufacturing, supplier management and Internal audit programs.
Strengths include developing staff, maintaining and developing budgets, implementing robust quality systems, communicating and implementing clear Key Performance Metrics (KPIs), conducting Quality Management Reviews and Executive Reports, implementing Lean Six Sigma programs, influencing and implementing positive change, and leading cross-functional teams.