Suppliers conduct self-assessments

No matter how hard you work on sustainability yourself, you’re still dependent on how your suppliers approach their own sustainability efforts. That’s why Gnosjö Automatsvarvning has developed a questionnaire that allows its suppliers to assess their own sustainability work and processes.

”Sure, you can ask for certifications and reports – but how many people actually read all the documents? And what do they really tell you about day-to-day work and sustainability?”

”We ask our suppliers the kinds of questions we would want to receive ourselves – questions where the answers are directly useful to us,” says Alicia Jäderland, Sustainability Manager at Gnosjö Automatsvarvning.

Alicia explains that the questionnaire includes questions across nine different areas, with in-depth questions for each. One of the seven questions related to process control for delivering parts to Gnosjö Automatsvarvning, for example, reads:

”Is there a process in place to ensure that foreign objects do not accompany our components?”

Here, the supplier is asked to rate themselves from 0 to 3, answer yes or no regarding documentation, and has the opportunity to comment on their response. The six other questions on process control cover work instructions, traceability, risks, and measurements – all with the same answer options. Each area’s scores are then compiled into a total score.

”But the score isn’t the most important part,” Alicia notes. ”Whether a supplier gives themselves a two or a three doesn’t matter that much. What matters is if they score a zero. That could mean they don’t have a process, documentation, or system in place – or simply that they don’t find the question relevant.”

The answers give Gnosjö Automatsvarvning a clear understanding of how the supplier’s processes work, where there may be gaps, and what the company in turn can promise its own customers. At the same time, suppliers get a better understanding of what Gnosjö Automatsvarvning values in a partnership. From there, both parties can influence and improve each other’s day-to-day operations.

Several people at Gnosjö Automatsvarvning have contributed to shaping the questions and identifying areas that are relevant and meaningful for both sides. It has been important that the questions are directly linked to operations – not too general or obvious. Around Christmas, the questionnaire was sent out to five suppliers. The feedback was positive.

”Four out of five responded almost immediately,” says Jens Ringborg, who has also played a key role in developing the self-assessment. ”They were positive and saw the value in the questions, which open the door to a constructive dialogue. We’re now moving forward, fine-tuning the process and preparing to reach out to more suppliers.”

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