Building Resilient & Responsible Supply Chains
Today's supply chains are increasingly complex, interconnected and exposed to quality, compliance, sustainability and operational risks. Organizations need greater visibility across their supplier networks to understand where risks exist, ensure requirements are being met and identify opportunities for improvement.
DNV helps organizations assess and strengthen the performance of their supply chains through independent audits, assessments and certification services. Our approach combines industry expertise with a risk-based perspective, helping you evaluate supplier performance, strengthen responsible practices and build greater confidence across your value chain.
Whether you need to verify compliance with your own supplier requirements, assess specific risks or implement a structured assurance program, our services can be tailored to your business, industry and supply chain objectives.
Our supply chain assurance services cover key areas of supplier performance and risk, including Food Safety Audits and Inspection, QEHS Audits and Assessments, Responsible Sourcing and Production Audits and Certification, and Social and Ethical Audits and Assessments. Together, these services help organizations address critical requirements across food safety, quality, environment, health and safety, responsible production, and social and ethical practices throughout their supply chains.
Explore our full range of supply chain assurance services to support your journey toward a more resilient, responsible and transparent supply chain.
Real-World Examples: Case Studies
These challenges are already being addressed by leading companies across the food and beverage industry, demonstrating that supply chain resilience, transparency and responsible sourcing are not simply theoretical goals, but practical business priorities.
Explore how Barilla strengthens food safety through supply chain governance, supplier audits and raw material traceability; how Diageo Brazil worked with DNV to standardize supplier compliance and introduce greater digital visibility and risk control across its supply chain; and how Ferrero is using increased supply chain visibility, digitalization and verified data to advance responsible sourcing and sustainability.
Together, these examples show how companies can move from fragmented oversight to a more integrated approach—combining governance, assurance, digital tools and reliable data to better understand risks, strengthen supplier relationships and make more informed decisions. They also demonstrate that greater transparency is not only about compliance: it can become a strategic enabler for building more resilient, responsible and sustainable supply chains.
Learn how to get started and be certified
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Obtain the standard:
Get a licensed copy of the relevant standard and familiarize yourself with the requirements to decide if certification/registration to this standard makes good sense for your organization.
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Review available literature and apply digital tools
Explore available literature, guidelines from the standard owners (e.g. ISO/TS 9002 for ISO 9001, ISO 14004 for ISO 14001) and digital sources and tools that can assist with implementation. Note that as a DNV customer you get access to tailored tools that can assist you.
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Assemble a team and define strategy:
To implement a management system should be a strategic decision for the entire organization. Senior management must be involved in the decision, committed and involved in shaping the system. They decide the business strategy the management system should support. In addition, you need a dedicated team to develop and implement your management system.
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Determine competence needs:
First, your team implementing and maintaining the management system needs a thorough understanding of the chosen standards. Later on, the wider organization needs awareness training. DNV offers a variety of public and in-house courses worldwide that meets your competence training needs at all levels within your organization.
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Review consultant options:
Independent consultants can advise on a workable, realistic, and cost-effective strategy plan for implementation if you do not have this competence or capacity already.
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Develop management system documentation:
Decide on an appropriate platform for your documented information (e.g. software, process map- or SharePoint-based). The right platform is important to ensure effective management, communication and implementation.
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Determine, manage and document processes:
First identify key processes – what they are, how they work, and how they interact. Each process should have a clear purpose, defined responsibilities, and expected outputs. The level of documented information needed depends on the organization’s size, complexity, and the importance of each process, but must include relevant processes and other documented information needed to deliver on intended outcomes and comply with the chosen standard’s requirements.
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Implement management system:
Clear communication and necessary competence training are essential elements. During the implementation phase, you will work to ensure that your organization is working according to defined and documented processes. Once successful, you can prove system’s compliance and effectiveness.
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Select a certification body/registrar:
Selecting the right certification body/registrar can make a difference throughout your certification journey. DNV offers a trusted partnership approach, a risk-based approach and range of free digital tools that help you manage your certification journey before, during and after the audit.
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Consider a pre-audit gap analysis:
Consider a preliminary evaluation by your certification body/registrar to identify and correct nonconformities before starting the official certification process. The purpose is to identify areas of non-conformance or weaknesses, allowing you to correct these before you begin the official certification process.
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What sets our audit approach apart?
Risk-based and focused
Our audits go beyond checking compliance. We take a risk-based approach to identify the suppliers, processes and requirements that matter most to your business, helping you prioritize actions and focus resources where they can have the greatest impact.
Industry expertise
Our auditors combine technical competence with extensive industry and supply chain experience, enabling us to understand the specific risks and challenges within your operations and supplier network.
Tailored to your requirements
Every supply chain is different. Our audit programs can be tailored to your internal policies, supplier requirements, risk profile and applicable standards or frameworks, from individual supplier assessments to global programs.
Actionable insights
We go beyond identifying gaps. Clear findings and practical insights help you engage suppliers, address corrective actions and drive continual improvement across your supply chain.
The benefits of certification with DNV
Demonstrate commitment
Certification provides independent evidence that your organization meets recognized requirements and is committed to maintaining high standards across its operations and supply chain.
Build trust and credibility
An internationally recognized DNV certification can strengthen confidence among customers, suppliers, business partners and other stakeholders.
Improve performance
The certification process helps identify areas for improvement, strengthen processes and establish a structured approach to continual improvement.
Gain a competitive advantage
Demonstrating certified performance can help differentiate your organization, support customer requirements and strengthen your position in increasingly demanding markets.
Leverage digital tools
Digital solutions can help organizations improve visibility across their supply chain, manage audit programs, track findings and corrective actions, and use data to support more informed decisions and continual improvement. Find out more about our digital customer experience.
Support responsible business
Certification can help demonstrate that your organization takes quality, environmental, social, sustainability and responsible business practices seriously.
