Certainty Blog

10 Supplier Management Best Practices

The supply chain management landscape has changed significantly over the past two years. As noted by Supply Chain 24/7, 84% of enterprise CFOs now see supply chain disruptions as moderate or severe risks. And even if suppliers don’t experience shortages or work stoppages, getting goods where they’re going is more expensive.

Transportation costs may increase by 600% compared to pre-pandemic levels. This increase is dependent on the origin and destination of goods, as well as the mode of transportation used.

The result? Supplier diversification. Companies, large and small, now understand the danger of relying on one supplier and have started using multiple suppliers. With more suppliers, however, comes more complexity, in turn creating a need for more robust supplier management. […]

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Managing Human Rights and Environmental Impacts in Supply Chains: The Proposed EC Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and What it Means for Businesses with Global Supply Chains

What is the EC Draft Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence? Proposed by the European Commission in February 2022, the EC Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence aims to force global brands to play a key role in building a “just and sustainable economy” through their compliance with rules that enforce the “respect of human […]

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What is a SMETA Audit and Why You Need One

Social responsibility and sustainability are now critical components of business success. But in order to effectively deploy and integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks, companies need to know what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change across current operations. A SMETA audit can help. What is a SMETA Audit? SMETA stands for the […]

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The Global Impact of The German Supply Chain Act (GSCA)

If you ask most North American EHS, Quality, or Supply Chain Directors if their companies have significant social or environmental impacts, you would probably get a similar response from most. Well, no we’re not in a high-risk sector … All our production is in the US so for us that is not really an issue […]

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Certainty and DNV Webinar: The importance of supplier due diligence, quality assurance, and compliance management

Recently, we had the opportunity of sitting down with DNV to discuss the growing global supply chain challenges in today’s business environment. Also, our expert panelists Florian Mueller, Global Product & Business Development Director at DNV, Joy Laing, Global Director of Supply Chain Management Services at DNV, and Neil Marshall, Senior Advisor at DNV discussed […]

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The Supplier Compliance Audit: What it is (and Why You Need One)

Supply chain issues aren’t going anywhere. According to research firm McKinsey, 2022 comes with three key concerns: Labor shortages, equipment availability, and the “ripple effect” of continuing global bottlenecks. For organizations, this landscape creates a dual challenge. Not only do they need to ensure the reliability and stability of supply chains but must also take […]

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Supply Chain Vulnerability Assessment

What is a Supply Chain Vulnerability Assessment?

The complexity of managing global supply chains has significantly escalated over the past ten years, a situation further exacerbated by the Pandemic. According to the Institute for Supply Management, the Backlog of Orders Index for the manufacturing sector reached an unprecedented 71% in May 2021. This surge is primarily attributed to extended lead times and […]

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Understanding Social Compliance And Self-Audits

Businesses that have a sense of purpose – that is, they are motivated to provide value for all stakeholders and to improve the local and global society – tend to be more successful, generating more revenue. According to a survey, 58% of businesses that prioritize operating with purpose witnessed a 10% revenue increase in three years. Social […]

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Supply chain visibility

Seeing is Succeeding: Why Supply Chain Visibility Matters

Supply chain operations remain top of mind for companies across the globe. Airfreight warehouses and shipping ports are backlogged, and the cost of transporting goods has risen exponentially as pandemic pressures disrupted familiar supply chain routes even as customers made the move to online ordering that came with promises of free, fast delivery. Put simply, […]

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supply chain disruption

Supply Chain Disruptions: What They Are — And How to Avoid Them

Global Supply chain disruptions and supply shortages are expected to persist through the remainder of 2022, with forecasts saying they may persist into the following year — even as global economies see substantial recovery and consumer demands for the speedy delivery of goods and services continue to rise. But what exactly are supply chain disruptions? What impacts […]

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Supplier Selection

Supplier Selection: Finding the Right Fit

The right supplier network is essential for companies to effectively navigate the constant changes in global supply chains and prepare for future pressures. But creating a robust supplier framework is often easier said than done. While recent research found that companies now prioritize increased efficiency and visibility across their supply chains, what does this look like […]

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Supply Chain Audit

Supply Chain Audit: A Key Tool to Improve Performance

“Unexpected” is an accurate reflection of the last two years for supply chain operations. Companies with seemingly robust and reliable supply chains found themselves struggling to bolster supply when the pandemic first hit in 2020 — and as noted by Forbes, supply chains in 2022 will continue to struggle with reduced product availability, increased material and […]

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Supply Chain Managements Tools

Reduced Risk, Increased Resiliency: The Advantage of Supply Chain Management Tools

While supply chains are beginning to stabilize in a post-Covid world, challenges remain. As noted by KPMG, issues related to logistics disruption, production delays, commodity pricing, and labor shortages will remain through 2022. The result? To maximize the efficacy of suppliers and supply chains, companies must focus on data-driven diversification: Finding ways to ensure they’re […]

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