March 21, 2024 Improve Compliance Data Management: Revcor & Assent

Perfecting compliance data management helps Revcor blow the competition away.

From Meeting Requirements to Leading the Market

Maintaining a reputation for delivering compliant and responsibly sourced components meant that Revcor had to juggle multiple due diligence processes, including supplier outreach, regulatory research, and data management. When Jeff Kathe, Vice President of Supply Chain, joined Revcor, he made it his mission to put the company in a proactive position to handle changes to product compliance regulations and emerging environmental, social, and governance (ESG) expectations from customers.

While Revcor was able to keep up with customer data requests, Kathe knew that processes could be streamlined to reduce operating costs and respond to customers more quickly. After comparing the costs of an additional hire against the implementation of a third-party supply chain solution, he reached out to Assent:

“When we looked at the resources it would take to do it internally the way that we would like to and to be excellent at it, from a budgetary perspective, it was a pretty easy decision to make [to partner with Assent], given all of the resources that they brought to the table.”

After working closely with Assent’s team of regulatory experts, Revcor was able to create a more proactive approach to supply chain sustainability management and bring all its due diligence processes into Assent’s automated platform.

“What we’ve been able to do in just one year with Assent is consolidate all of our information, and make sure that as product compliance regulations change, we’re on top of them,” said Kathe. “We’re campaigning suppliers [with the platform], and we can put compliance data all in one place and then easily retrieve that information for our customers.”

Turning the Supply Chain Into a Business Differentiator

Revcor’s business model is built on delivering an excellent customer experience, including answering data requests quickly and giving customers confidence that their products are compliant with regulations and responsible sourcing expectations such as conflict minerals reporting. They needed a system that would help them more efficiently respond to customers with higher-quality data, and demonstrate the added value Revcor brings by providing compliant and responsible products.

Revcor worked with Assent to improve data collection and reporting for a number of international product regulations, such as the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation and the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). They also implemented Assent’s supply chain ESG reporting solution to identify and mitigate risks around supplier performance on environmental impacts and human rights.

But all this data collection does more than check regulatory boxes — it’s driving increased sales and consumer confidence.

“It definitely helps us when we are bringing on new customers… They want to understand what our commitment is to both product compliance and ESG. They like to see that we are proactive on all of those fronts,” explained Kathe. “Being able to say that we’re partnered with Assent is something that we take seriously. Customers can ask us for any product compliance declaration and we can turn around and provide it instantly. It’s a huge benefit.”

Getting Proactive About PFAS

Revcor is also using the Assent product compliance solution to stay ahead of new reporting requirements around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

“PFAS is certainly something that’s top of mind, especially with the EPA’s TSCA updates. It’s something we want to get our arms around,” said Kathe.

Revcor uses Assent to reach out to suppliers to get comprehensive PFAS declarations. That data can then be communicated with regulators and customers who are trying to meet their own reporting obligations, making Revcor a stronger partner in PFAS compliance across the entire supply chain.

Deep Regulatory & Sustainability Expertise at the Core

In addition to a supply chain data management platform, Revcor has access to Assent’s in-house team of regulatory and sustainability experts, who are on hand to answer questions in-depth. For example, Revcor needed to make sure a new grade of steel from its supply chain was safe to use. Assent was able to step in and provide insights:

“When we ask a question on a specific piece of product compliance, the people at Assent have been able to bring in metallurgists and other folks that have expertise in those areas… Assent had somebody who understood the chemistry behind it. And it wasn’t just a matter of them reaching out to the supplier and asking if they were compliant, they were able to understand, digest the intent of the regulation, and figure out how we would proceed through that,” Kathe explained.

Assent also provides enhanced supplier screening so Revcor can validate that suppliers don’t have any business ties to sanctioned or denied parties, and aren’t being mentioned in the media for unethical or corrupt behavior. This enables Revcor to remove bad actors from its supply chain and protect its reputation with customers. Kathe views the Assent team as a crucial part of his supply chain sustainability strategy:

“They’re a wealth of knowledge. And it’s such a broader bank of resources than just people going out and collecting information on our behalf. They advise us and help us make decisions that are important for how we do business and how we operate.

Cost & Time Savings: When the Supply Chain Helps the Bottom Line

Supply chains are complex, and managing them without the right tools and support can be costly and time-consuming. However, Revcor has turned its supply chain into a major business asset and market differentiator that enhances the bottom line. Regulatory compliance is non-negotiable, so manufacturers like Revcor must find a way to optimize their compliance budgets. For Kathe, Assent was a smart investment: “We saw a return on our investment after one year.”

In addition, by working with Assent, Revcor’s proactive approach to supply chain sustainability management resulted in better financial performance and a more resilient supply chain. They were able to:

• Anticipate and avoid supply chain disruptions caused by regulatory changes
• Improve supplier engagement with compliance and ESG programs
• Grow customer trust and sales by responding to compliance inquiries faster and more accurately
• Stay ahead of new PFAS reporting requirement

www.assent.com

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