7.4       Purchasing

7.4.1      Purchasing Process

MII ensures that purchased product conforms to specified purchase requirements. The type and extent of control applied to the supplier and the purchased product is dependent upon the effect of the purchased product on subsequent product realization or the final product.

 

MII is responsible for the quality of all products purchased from suppliers, including customer-designated sources.

 

MII evaluates and selects suppliers based on their ability to supply product in accordance with MII' requirements. Criteria for selection, evaluation and reevaluation is established (see Procedure P4.6). Records of the results of evaluations and any necessary actions arising from the evaluation are maintained (see P4.6, Purchasing Procedure).

 

MALLORY INDUSTRIES:

a.          maintains a register of approved suppliers that includes the scope of the approval;

b.         periodically reviews supplier performance; records of these reviews are used as a basis for establishing the level of controls to be implemented;

c.          defines the necessary actions to take when dealing with suppliers that do not meet requirements;

d.          ensures where required that both MII and all suppliers use customer approved special process sources;

e.          ensures that the function having responsibility for approving supplier quality systems has the authority to disapprove the use of sources.

(see Procedure P4.6 Purchasing)

 

7.4.2   Purchasing Information

Purchasing information describes the product to be purchased, including where appropriate:

a.          requirements for approval of product, procedures, processes and equipment,

b.          requirements for qualification of personnel,

c.          quality management system requirements,

d.          the name or other positive identification, and applicable issues of specifications, drawings, process requirements, inspection instructions and other relevant technical data,

e.          requirements for design, test, examination, inspection and related instructions for acceptance by MII,

f.           requirements for test specimens (e.g., production method, number, storage conditions) for design approval, inspection, investigation or auditing,

g.          requirements relative to:

-            supplier notification to MII of nonconforming product and

-            arrangements for MII approval of supplier nonconforming material,

h.         requirements for the supplier to notify MII of changes in product and/or process definition and, where required, obtain organization approval,

i.           right of access by MII, their customer, and regulatory authorities to all facilities involved in the order and to all applicable records, and

j.           requirements for the supplier to flow down to sub-tier suppliers the applicable requirements in the purchasing documents, including key characteristics where required.

 

MII ensures the adequacy of specified purchase requirements prior to their communication to the supplier.

 

7.4.3      Verification of Purchased Product

MII has established and implemented the inspection or other activities necessary for ensuring that purchased product meets specified purchase requirements (See Procedures P4.6 Purchasing, P4.10 Inspection and Testing, and P4.15 Material Handling).

 

Verification activities may include:

a.          obtaining objective evidence of the quality of the product from suppliers (e.g., accompanying documentation, certificate of conformity, test reports, statistical records, process control),

b.         inspection and audit at supplier’s premises,

c.          review of the required documentation,

d.          inspection of products upon receipt, and

e.          delegation of verification to the supplier, or supplier certification.

 

Purchased product is not used or processed until it has been verified as conforming to specified requirements unless it is released under Advance Release of Product (see Procedure P4.10.4.8).

 

Where MII utilizes test reports to verify purchased product, the data in those reports shall be acceptable per applicable specifications. MII periodically validates test reports for raw material.

 

Where MII delegates verification activities to the supplier, the requirements for delegation are defined and a register of delegations maintained.

 

Where MII or its customer intends to perform verification at the supplier's premises, MII shall state the intended verification arrangements and method of product release in the purchasing information.

 

Where specified in the contract, the customer or the customer’s representative shall be afforded the right to verify at the supplier’s premises and MII’ premises that subcontracted product conforms to specified requirements.

 

Verification by the customer shall not be used by MII as evidence of effective control of quality by the supplier and shall not absolve MII of the responsibility to provide acceptable product, nor shall it preclude subsequent rejection by the customer.