The Procurement Glossary » Supplier Certification
Supplier Certification
Compliance & Risk
Definition
Formal verification that a supplier or product meets a recognised standard.
Explanation
Certifications (quality, environmental, safety, security, industry-specific) give buyers independent assurance and reduce audit effort. They are collected at onboarding and tracked for validity, since lapsed certificates create risk.
Example
The system flags a supplier's expiring safety certificate 60 days before it lapses.
Related terms
- ISO 9001 — An internationally recognised standard for quality management systems.
- Supplier Onboarding — The process of setting up a new supplier to trade — collecting details, verifying compliance and adding it to systems.
- Procurement Compliance — Adherence to the policies, contracts, laws and controls that govern how an organisation buys.
- Supplier Audit — A formal on-site or documentary review of a supplier's processes, quality systems or compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Supplier Certification?
Formal verification that a supplier or product meets a recognised standard. Certifications (quality, environmental, safety, security, industry-specific) give buyers independent assurance and reduce audit effort. They are collected at onboarding and tracked for validity, since lapsed certificates create risk.
Can you give an example of Supplier Certification?
The system flags a supplier's expiring safety certificate 60 days before it lapses.
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