Whatever industry you’re in, you’re going to need to buy supplies. If you’re a printer, you’ll need to purchase inks, various types of printing equipment, and paper. If you’re in manufacturing, you’ll need to obtain parts that you don’t make yourself. But how do you know you’re making the right choice when you have multiple suppliers vying to fulfill your orders? How can you be sure you’re selecting the vendor with the highest quality, or eliminating the supplier whose products aren’t meeting your expectations?

Let’s take a look at an example from automotive manufacturing to see how we can use data to make an informed decision about the options.

Camshaft problems

Thanks to camshafts that don’t meet specifications, too many of your company’s engines are failing. It’s harming your reputation and revenue. Your company has two different camshaft suppliers, and it’s up to you to figure out if camshafts from one or both of them are failing to meet standards.

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