Glossary term

Supplier risk assessment

A supplier risk assessment is a structured review of the likelihood and potential impact of supplier-related events on the organization. Scope may include financial, operational, geographic, quality, security, privacy, legal, compliance, safety, sustainability, and concentration factors. Scores should be traceable to evidence, thresholds, ownership, review dates, and actions rather than treated as permanent facts.

A supplier risk assessment is a structured review of the likelihood and potential impact of supplier-related events on the organization. Scope may include financial, operational, geographic, quality, security, privacy, legal, compliance, safety, sustainability, and concentration factors. Scores should be traceable to evidence, thresholds, ownership, review dates, and actions rather than treated as permanent facts.

In plain English

It evaluates what could go wrong with a supplier relationship and what response is appropriate.

Illustrative example

At Northstar Industrial Systems, a critical component supplier receives evidence-based financial, capacity, geographic, and continuity ratings that trigger a mitigation plan and quarterly review.

Related terms
Due diligence; Supplier scorecard; Critical supplier; Supplier segmentation
Lifecycle stages
Source; Approve; Govern; Optimize
Stakeholders
Procurement; Operations; Finance; IT and Security; Compliance and Legal

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