Qualification + Selection
Qualification
Our goal is to develop and maintain a robust supply base of Qualified Suppliers aimed at providing lowest total costs and exceeding our customer expectations.
Our qualification process is designed to gradually share information about each other, so we can each make clear decisions whether or not to continue the process. Our objective is to qualify suppliers with the best capability match to our business needs.
Selection
Qualified Suppliers must successfully complete a process and fulfill agreed upon requirements. Our qualification process includes research, evaluation, agreement, as well as ongoing monitoring and measurement.
Our Qualification Leaders develop a candidate supplier list from various sources, including our database of potential material and service providers.
The database is populated by inputs from our global Supplier Questionnaire.
Management
A supplier is selected from our qualified suppliers. We award business based on the supplier’s ability to meet specific requirements of a Schedule Agreement that includes line items such as quality, reliability, total delivered cost to point of use, environmental impact, etc.
We manage our suppliers with our customers in mind. We monitor our suppliers’ performance to ensure the products and services they provide meet or exceed the agreed upon terms and conditions.
Global Agreement
Prior to providing you access to Steelcase Engineering Specifications you will be required to sign a confidential disclosure agreement.
Steelcase and the supplier agree to certain terms and conditions of our Global Master Agreements. We have several types of agreements based on what is being purchased. The Master Agreement describes the general terms and conditions governing any purchase of product, material, service, or equipment by Steelcase from a supplier.
Qualified suppliers have appropriately demonstrated documented and implemented primary business processes and any special processes (welding, coating or adhesives).
Supplier Diversity
Open image tooltip Introduction
Our former President and CEO, James Keane, has expressed to internal and external audiences that it’s not companies that survive for over 100 years, it’s ideas. Steelcase remains centered on one core idea– we unlock human promise. We also believe there is opportunity to unlock human promise in the development of a diverse supply base.
Open image tooltip
Program + Vision
Since 1991, the Steelcase Supplier Diversity Program has focused on promoting the growth and development of minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, service-disable veteran-owned and HUBzone businesses in the United States by integrating them into our procurement process.
Here at Steelcase, we review our corporate supplier diversity goals monthly. In addition, we continue our involvement in conferences and networking opportunities to make connections with more potential suppliers.
Our Supplier Diversity vision is to grow, develop, and retain our diverse businesses by creating a strong supplier diversity program that meets the needs of our stakeholders.
Open image tooltip
Initiatives
Our diversity initiatives include:
- Participating in trade shows, conferences, networking events, customer showcases and meetings of associations representing diverse businesses to share information about Steelcase and to identify potential suppliers
- Maintaining relationships with diverse business associations, as well as small business associations
Resources
CODE OF CONDUCT
We work with our suppliers to mutually serve our customers and shareholders. Together, we strive to meet and exceed quality standards, improve efficiencies and effectiveness, and manage resources and costs. We have established guidelines, tools and programs to enhance this outcome. Chief among these is the Steelcase Supplier Code of Conduct.
Supplier Code of Conduct (Chinese)
SUPPLYSYNC
SupplySync is a private, Internet-based exchange that connects Steelcase with its supply network. The exchange provides a wide range of business services for both indirect and direct material suppliers.
If you are already a Steelcase supplier, your buyer or primary contact at Steelcase can share more about SupplySync with you. If you are interested in becoming a candidate supplier, please fill in our Candidate Supplier Questionnaire form.
SUPPLIER FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
To ensure efficient financial transactions with our suppliers, please see the Accounts Payable Finance brochure for EMEA suppliers.
START Manual
The START Manual is a description of the day-to-day business processes required to be a Direct or Finished Goods supplier to Steelcase.
Packaging Specification and Distribution Guideline
The Packaging Specification and Distribution Guideline provides instructions on the design and testing requirements of product packaging.