How is the supplier risk score calculated?

Each input is scored on the same scale, then weighted: severity × 0.40 + occurrence × 0.35 + detection × 0.25. With severity 6, occurrence 4, and detection 3, that is 2.4 + 1.4 + 0.75 = 4.55.

Why is severity weighted highest?

In nutraceuticals the consequence of a defect reaching the consumer — adulteration, allergen, contamination — can mean a recall or harm, which outweighs frequency. The 40% severity weight reflects that a rare but catastrophic failure should rank above a common but trivial one.

What scoring scale should I use?

A 1-to-10 scale per factor is standard, matching FMEA convention, but any consistent range works as long as you apply the identical scale to every supplier. The model's value comes from comparability, so never mix scales.

What is a good supplier risk score?

On a 1-10 input scale the weighted output also lands roughly 1-10. The example's 4.55 is moderate. Scores in the upper third should drive tighter incoming testing, more frequent audits, or dual sourcing; low scores can move to reduced inspection.

How is detection scored — high or low for good detection?

Follow FMEA convention: a high detection score means the defect is hard to catch before use, which raises risk. If your incoming COA review and identity testing reliably catch a problem, score detection low. The example uses 3, meaning fairly detectable.

How often should I rescore suppliers?

Rescore at qualification and at least annually, plus immediately after any deviation, recall, COA discrepancy, or change of manufacturing site. Occurrence and detection scores in particular drift as you accumulate incoming-test history.

Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods calculator

Supplier Risk Calculator

Supplier risk scoring ranks the ingredient and raw-material suppliers feeding a nutraceutical or functional-food line by how dangerous a quality failure from each one would be. It adapts the classic FMEA logic — severity, occurrence, detection — into a single weighted score so a procurement or QA team can rank vendors of botanicals, vitamins, probiotics, and excipients on one scale. Supplier quality is existential in this industry: adulteration, undeclared allergens, heavy-metal contamination, or potency drift can trigger recalls and regulatory action. This model weights severity highest because in supplements the consequence of a defect reaching the consumer outweighs how often it happens, and it forces you to use the same scale across every supplier so the rankings are actually comparable.

What this calculator does

Score ingredient supplier risk from severity, occurrence, and detection, so quality and procurement can rank suppliers for audits, qualification, and dual sourcing.
A quality or procurement lead needs a single, comparable risk score for an ingredient supplier to prioritize audits, requalification, or a second source.
It blends severity, occurrence, and detection scores into a single weighted supplier risk score (severity 40%, occurrence 35%, detection 25%).

Formula used

Supplier risk score = severity score × 0.40 + occurrence score × 0.35 + detection score × 0.25
Use the same scoring scale across suppliers so scores stay comparable.

Inputs explained

Severity if the ingredient defect reaches product:
Occurrence likelihood for this supplier:
Detection difficulty before use:

How to use the result

Use it during supplier qualification, periodic vendor review, or when prioritizing audit and incoming-test resources across an ingredient panel.
It is only as good as your scoring consistency; the weights are fixed and the output is a relative ranking tool, not an absolute measure of food-safety risk.

Current U.S. benchmarks

Industrial natural gas averages $4.9 per Mcf (EIA, Apr 2026), down 7.7% from a year earlier, with industrial electricity at 8.66 cents per kWh. Process heating and refrigeration budgets track both.
The U.S. has 31,130 food manufacturing establishments employing about 1,707,316 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

How is the supplier risk score calculated? Each input is scored on the same scale, then weighted: severity × 0.40 + occurrence × 0.35 + detection × 0.25. With severity 6, occurrence 4, and detection 3, that is 2.4 + 1.4 + 0.75 = 4.55.
Why is severity weighted highest? In nutraceuticals the consequence of a defect reaching the consumer — adulteration, allergen, contamination — can mean a recall or harm, which outweighs frequency. The 40% severity weight reflects that a rare but catastrophic failure should rank above a common but trivial one.
What scoring scale should I use? A 1-to-10 scale per factor is standard, matching FMEA convention, but any consistent range works as long as you apply the identical scale to every supplier. The model's value comes from comparability, so never mix scales.
What is a good supplier risk score? On a 1-10 input scale the weighted output also lands roughly 1-10. The example's 4.55 is moderate. Scores in the upper third should drive tighter incoming testing, more frequent audits, or dual sourcing; low scores can move to reduced inspection.
How is detection scored — high or low for good detection? Follow FMEA convention: a high detection score means the defect is hard to catch before use, which raises risk. If your incoming COA review and identity testing reliably catch a problem, score detection low. The example uses 3, meaning fairly detectable.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.