Supplier data management system

A data management system and method for raw material, the system including a network adapted to permit data transfer between a manufacturer and a supplier, wherein the manufacturer produces a product, and wherein the supplier supplies a raw material, the raw material having a raw material code and raw material property data; a database of raw material specifications in communication with the network, wherein the specifications are searchable by the raw material code; and a database of raw material property data connected to the network, wherein the database includes raw material property data from the supplier, and wherein the raw material property data are searchable by the raw material code. The system and method also include a data entry system connected to the network, wherein the data entry system is adapted to permit the supplier to transmit raw material property data to the manufacturer via the network; a generator connected to the network adapted to produce a comparison of the transmitted raw material property data with the corresponding raw material specification from the raw material specifications database; and a signal generator connected to the generator and adapted to receive the comparison and generate a compliance signal indicating whether the raw material is compliant with the corresponding raw material specification in response to the comparison.