What should you do if no supplement manufacturer meets your standards? Low manufacturer evaluation scores can feel like a setback, especially after a long RFP (Request for Proposal) and multiple rounds of supplier evaluation. However, these scores are a signal, not a failure. They help your procurement team avoid poor quality, reduce costs, and make informed decisions that protect your business goals. A strong scoring process, clear evaluation criteria, and systematic reviews on a weekly or monthly basis keep your brand safe from costly supply chain mistakes.
This article covers the implications of low manufacturer scores, adjusting expectations, finding better suppliers, and next steps when no vendor meets your requirements.
What Does It Mean If No Supplement Manufacturer Scores High Enough?
Low manufacturer evaluation scores can happen for several reasons during the supplier evaluation stage. The procurement process often breaks down because the evaluation criteria are either too rigid or not aligned with the company’s current business goals.
Some procurement teams may rely on outdated scoring systems that no longer align with current manufacturing standards or supplier performance benchmarks. In other cases, the issue lies with the particular supplier, such as recurring quality issues, poor financial stability, or a failure to meet basic requirements like GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) compliance, proper certifications, and consistent on-time delivery.
It’s essential to evaluate whether your scoring process supports smart, informed decisions and reflects your company’s own KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). The total score across all categories should highlight supplier strengths and flag potential risks.
Individual scores in key areas like cost, efficiency, and operations can uncover deeper problems that surface during RFP evaluation and vendor proposal reviews. Different evaluators should apply the same standard criteria to ensure consistency and accuracy.
A systematic process that balances cost, quality, and expertise is the best way to avoid potential risk and find suppliers who can meet your expectations long term.
Should You Adjust Your Expectations or Criteria?
Review your procurement process before restarting if no supplier meets your standards. During supplier evaluation, rigid evaluation criteria can sometimes eliminate potential vendors who still offer strong value.
It’s important to separate dealbreakers like poor supplier performance or repeated quality issues from areas with acceptable flexibility. This helps streamline decision-making and keeps your operations moving forward.
Reassess negotiable factors like price and timelines, but maintain non-negotiables such as product quality and on-time delivery. Collaborating with other departments ensures that your scoring system supports overall business goals and reflects your company’s own KPIs. Using a consistent scoring process with reliable data, different evaluators can fairly review vendor proposals, assign individual scores, and evaluate the total score of each vendor. This approach helps you make informed decisions without compromising on the most important criteria.
Examples of When It’s Okay to Be Flexible
Not every low score should be a dealbreaker. If a potential supplier meets most of your business goals and shows strong promise, there are a few areas where flexibility can make sense:
- A slightly longer lead time may be acceptable if the manufacturer offers higher product quality or better communication.
- You can negotiate minimum order quantities (MOQs) if the vendor shows strong potential in other areas like process efficiency or cost savings.
- Some suppliers may need time to reach full performance levels. If the vendor agrees to a structured improvement plan with clear timelines, they may still be a low-risk choice.
How to Find Better Manufacturer Candidates
If your current candidates aren’t scoring well in your evaluation process, it might be time to expand your search. Many procurement teams limit their options by focusing only on well-known suppliers or large companies, missing out on vendors that could offer better performance, lower cost, or specialized expertise. A broader sourcing strategy helps identify new suppliers who meet your scoring criteria and align with your long-term business objectives.
Explore supplier directories, attend trade shows, and contact vendors who can submit proposals with clear data on price, service level agreements, and production capabilities. Use the RFP (Request for Proposal) evaluation process to compare financial stability, technical expertise, and manufacturing capacity.
Your procurement team can also work to identify overlooked regional manufacturers who may meet your basic requirements and bring more value to your operations. These steps help create a more competitive pool of suppliers while keeping your business goals at the center of every decision.
Tips for Widening Your Manufacturer Search
If your current list of potential suppliers isn’t meeting your scoring criteria, it’s time to explore new sources. These strategies can help you discover qualified manufacturers and save time in your procurement process:
- Join active industry forums or LinkedIn groups where procurement professionals and nutrition brands share vendor insights.
- Use directories that list NSF (National Sanitation Foundation)-certified or FDA-registered manufacturers, often including performance metrics and contact info.
- Contact consultants who specialize in nutrition manufacturing. They can help review vendor proposals, streamline the RFP evaluation, and reduce time-consuming guesswork.
Should You Work with a Manufacturer That Needs Improvement?
Sometimes, a potential supplier doesn’t meet every mark in your evaluation process but still shows strong potential. Choosing a “good enough” vendor can work if you clearly define expectations and use performance data to guide improvements. Creating service-level agreements and using standard criteria allows your procurement team to monitor progress while protecting your business from bigger risks.
Set specific milestones for supplier performance, such as reduced turnaround times, improved cost control, or higher-quality sourcing practices. Review these metrics every month to identify problems early and keep the process accountable. This structured approach supports long-term value while minimizing disruption to your operations and customer satisfaction.
When It’s Better to Walk Away and Restart Your Manufacturer Search
Some suppliers simply present too much risk. If a vendor’s proposal shows poor practices like failing GMP standards, inconsistent documentation, or low-quality control, it’s time to move on. Even when other vendors score well on factors like price or delivery, weak points in safety or transparency should not be ignored.
Your evaluation team should rely on verified data and consistent review criteria to make informed decisions. Sticking to your company’s non-negotiables helps avoid costly errors and keeps your supply chain aligned with your business standards—even if it takes longer to find the right supplier.
Final Options: Private Labeling While You Continue Searching
If no current suppliers meet your evaluation criteria, private labeling can be a cost-effective temporary solution, allowing brands to enter the market swiftly while continuing the search for a long-term manufacturing partner. This option lets you partner with companies offering pre-formulated products, which may meet basic compliance or quality standards, allowing you to sell them under your brand while continuing your manufacturer search. It simplifies sourcing, lowers upfront costs, and avoids delays in launching while you work to identify better long-term suppliers.
Private label partnerships help maintain brand activity and test products in the market without committing to vendors who may not meet long-term needs. These arrangements can offer preliminary insights into customer preferences and market response, which may inform future supplier evaluations.
While private labeling isn’t a permanent solution, it creates space to refine your criteria, strengthen your evaluation process, and ensure future partnerships align with your business goals and supply chain standards.
Smart Nutrition Brands Don’t Settle for Poor Manufacturers
Finding the right manufacturing company takes time. Low evaluation scores help you avoid poor quality, protect your supply chain, and support your business objectives. Sticking to non-negotiable criteria while staying flexible on things like lead time or MOQs can open new doors without risking your brand. Many procurement teams find better results by expanding their search, using clearer scoring systems, and staying focused on long-term supplier performance. The key is to stay patient, trust your process, and never lower your standards in areas that matter most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered a low evaluation score for a supplement manufacturer?
A low evaluation score usually means the manufacturer failed to meet key performance indicators like quality, compliance, or on-time delivery in your scoring system.
Should I work with a manufacturer that didn’t meet all my criteria?
You can work with a manufacturer who falls short on minor criteria but never compromise on non-negotiables like GMP standards or raw material quality.
How can I find more qualified supplement manufacturers?
Use supplier directories, attend trade shows, ask for referrals, and expand your network through industry forums and consultants to discover high-performing manufacturers.
Is it better to use a private label when searching for the perfect manufacturer?
Yes, private labeling can save time and help build brand momentum while you continue your procurement process and search for the right partner.
What are the top red flags that mean I should walk away?
Major red flags include FDA warnings, poor quality control, lack of transparency, and failure to meet your supplier evaluation standard criteria.
References
- International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering. (n.d.). Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) resources. ISPE. https://ispe.org/initiatives/regulatory-resources/gmp
- NSF International. (n.d.). About NSF. https://www.nsf.org/about-nsf
