SupplierInsight Establishes Alliance With Leading Quality Management Systems Registrar Smithers Quality Assessments; Alliance Brings Supplier Ratings for Electronic Commerce
CLEVELAND--Feb. 6, 2001--SupplierInsight(TM), a leading independent online source for qualification and rating information on B2B (business-to-business) suppliers, today announced an alliance with quality systems registrar Smithers Quality Assessments (SQA) to provide online supplier qualification services to e-businesses.Under the agreement, SQA, best known for its third-party certification of companies under ISO standards, will conduct facility review ratings of e-commerce suppliers. The facility review rating is one component of SupplierInsight's SupplierSeal(TM) Solution, which consists of five elements:
| -- | Supplier Insights -- summarizes important supplier information, such as existing certifications and association memberships. |
| -- | Reference Check Rating -- captures and rates basic buyer experiences. |
| -- | E-readiness Rating -- rates supplier's ability to engage in electronic commerce. |
| -- | Facility Review Rating -- rates supplier's manufacturing facilities using reputable third party ISO 9000 registrars and quality assessment companies. |
| -- | Dispute Resolution Rating -- tracks and rates a supplier's responsiveness to buyer disputes through a proprietary system. |
"Online supplier qualification is a critical need for today's e-commerce world," said Michael Hochschwender, president of SQA. "We believe that SupplierSeal is the most comprehensive product on the market today for providing online supplier qualification to e-marketplaces."
The SupplierSeal Solution qualifies suppliers by integrating traditional "offline" qualification methods into an online product for B2B e-marketplaces. Companies receiving the SupplierSeal may use the distinction as a qualification tool in any supporting e-marketplace or independently on the supplier's Web site.
"Smithers is an industry leader with a proven record of customer satisfaction and quality assurance expertise," commented Rebecca Braun, CEO of SupplierInsight. "Together, SupplierInsight and Smithers are offering a truly new and unique product that will allow suppliers to better represent themselves in e-marketplaces."
SupplierInsight allows suppliers participating in e-marketplaces to compete for business on attributes other than price. By displaying the SupplierSeal in a supporting e-marketplace, suppliers are able to differentiate themselves and provide more information about their company.
"With the SupplierSeal, a supplier can provide the information a buyer needs to make an online purchasing decision. The product helps buyers and suppliers build an online community of quality using supplier information, such as that derived from a Facility Review," explained Braun.
About SupplierInsight
SupplierInsight is a leading independent online source for comprehensive qualification and rating information of business-to-business suppliers that are engaged in digital procurement. The company's SupplierSeal system qualifies suppliers by integrating traditional "offline" qualification methods into an online product for B2B e-marketplaces. To learn more about SupplierInsight and its SupplierSeal Solution, please visit the company's Web site at www.supplierinsight.com or call 216-781-1100.
About Smithers Quality Assessments, Inc.
Smithers Quality Assessments, founded in 1993, offers quality and environmental management systems registration services for companies seeking certification to ISO 9000, QS-9000, ISO/TS 16949, AS9000 and ISO 14000 requirements. SQA is a subsidiary of Smithers Scientific Services, a leading independent research, consulting and testing firm serving an international client base primarily in the automotive, tire, aerospace, elastomeric, plastics, chemicals and medical goods industries. SQA's Web address is www.smithersregistrar.com.