My company has a job shop. We design tooling to hold the customer product. Do the vendors that we buy the material from to make the tooling have to be an approved Vendor?

Barb,

If the vendor supplies you with a product, as in your case, (or a service) that affects the quality of the final product, that vendor should be included on your "approved vendor list". If the final product is the tooling you make to hold the Customer's part, then you definitely have to include the vendor that supplied you with the material to make the tooling.

Dan

Remember that you define what it involves to become an approved vendor. This can vary with the type of product or service supplied. Our system differentiates between vendors who provide parts made custom for us and vendors who supply catalog type items. Those who supply custom items for us require a more through review than those who are distributors.