I was wondering what the general interpretation and process utilized by most to meet the requirements of 7.4.2 for purchase order review? Most companies I have dealt with utilize a peer review process, but we are a small company of 12 people and having to have a second person review every purchase order could be a real problem.

I was wondering what the general interpretation and process utilized by most to meet the requirements of 7.4.2 for purchase order review? Most companies I have dealt with utilize a peer review process, but we are a small company of 12 people and having to have a second person review every purchase order could be a real problem.

Hello Jarawho,

The person who is authorized to write and submit purchase orders, could be the one reviewing and approving. The purpose of this review is that the P.O. specifics have been adequately defined so that the supplier understands and is able to meet the requirements. Keep it simple.

Whatever works best for your organization is what you should do.
The P.O. itself is your record of review (paper and/or electronic).

Stijloor.

ISO 9001:2000 clause 7.4.2 describes the requirements of the relationship between you and your supplier. I am going to assume that you have a copy of the standard to avoid having to type it:

The first sentence means: The P.O. shall describe what you purchase (i.e. it can be a service),. In some cases, you may have special instructions or requirements that need to be communicated hence the P.O. shall describe those needs. In most cases, you purchase an “off the shelf” item with well-defined specifications; hence no need to do anything special, just buy the required part number.

The a) means: If appropriated (i.e. if it is required by your quality management system), you need to describe how you approve what you buy. This could be as simple as purchasing against the defined specifications (i.e. your customer and engineering team define the specs)

The B) means: In some instances (i.e. machine shops, etc), the supplier may need to have employees with specific knowledge, skills, certifications, etc.

The C) means: You may have additional requirements for the supplier such as; be an ISO 9001:2000 certified, etc

The last sentence means: Review the requirements needed on the “stuff” before you buy it, in order to ensure that you are getting what you need. Once again, in the case of an “off the shelf” item, this could be as simple as buying the require part number or a service.

I hope this helps,

Cuadra

I was wondering what the general interpretation and process utilized by most to meet the requirements of 7.4.2 for purchase order review? Most companies I have dealt with utilize a peer review process, but we are a small company of 12 people and having to have a second person review every purchase order could be a real problem.


Purchase Order Review??

One may have a process of reviewing the purchase orders to ensure implementation of clause 7.4.2, ISO 9001:2000, or one may ensure the implementation without the 'review' as well. 'Reviewing' a purchase order may not be needed at all and certainly is not a requirement of the clause.

Thanks everybody for the interpretation on this, I thought we could have the person who creates the PO review it as well, just wanted to make sure.

The Standard states, "The organization shall ensure the adequacy of specified purchase requirements prior to their communication to the supplier." How you do that is up to you. In a small company, the person who creates the requirements can also ensure their adaquacy. The Standard does not require a "review" here (the word is used intentionally in other places), there is no mention of a Purchase Order, nor is a record required here - unless you decide to have one. The Standards's language is extremely "economical." Take what is says at face value and decide what works best for you.

The C) means: You may have additional requirements for the supplier such as; be an ISO 9001:2000 certified, etc

I hope this helps,

Cuadra

I got a non conformity report from Stage 1 Audit due nothing was stated on the PO to meet 7.4.2 c; should I write in the PO that supplier need to be ISO 9000 Certified? We are working on a Supplier Quality Manual, I think that can be stated on the supplier quality Manual?
We are still not ISO 9000 certified, so Is it too much to ask to a supplier to be ISO 9000 certified when we are still not? I'm just wondering... How can I address this non conformity?
Thanks in advance for your help:confused:

ISO does not really require organization to deal only with ISO certified suppliers… :whip:

…a supplier’s quality management system that is effectively implemented and maintained that suits your organization’s requirements would be enough…

…others wrote this supplier’s qualification as “...an ISO certified company or has an equivalent quality management system…” :rolleyes:

I got a non conformity report from Stage 1 Audit due nothing was stated on the PO to meet 7.4.2 c;

This seems to be a bad NC. If you have no such specialized requirements, there's no need to state anything.

should I write in the PO that supplier need to be ISO 9000 Certified? We are working on a Supplier Quality Manual, I think that can be stated on the supplier quality Manual?
Don't impose a requirement for your suppliers to be certified to ISO 9001. There are plenty of capable suppliers who don't have the certificate and there's no reason to exclude them. The standard itself certainly doesn't require it.

We are still not ISO 9000 certified, so Is it too much to ask to a supplier to be ISO 9000 certified when we are still not? I'm just wondering... How can I address this non conformity?
Thanks in advance for your help:confused:Appeal this nonconformity.

You are going to have a person review their own work?!?!?! Oh my, the horror.

In all seriousness, having someone review their own work seems like a great plan. How else do you do everyhting with 12 people? And why do you think a second review so effective anyway?

…others wrote this supplier’s qualification as “...an ISO certified company or has an equivalent quality management system…” :rolleyes:
Do I need to write "ISO certified company or has an equivalent quality management system" on the PO? Can I state that on the Supplier Quality Manual (Which is not implemented yet)?

My boss was agree with the Non conformity, so what else I can do? :confused:

Thanks
AC:nopity:

Do I need to write "ISO certified company or has an equivalent quality management system" on the PO? Can I state that on the Supplier Quality Manual (Which is not implemented yet)?

My boss was agree with the Non conformity, so what else I can do? :confused:

Thanks
AC:nopity:

7.4.2 says that purchasing information must include quality management system requirements where appropriate. This means that if you have QMS requirements for your suppliers, they must be included in the purchasing "information." If you don't have such requirements, it wouldn't be appropriate to include them. :D

You might want to talk to your boss, explain that the finding is misguided, and ask if he wants to impose QMS requirements on suppliers. If he does, then the requirements will have to be properly defined and documented.

7.4.2 says that purchasing information must include quality management system requirements where appropriate. This means that if you have QMS requirements for your suppliers, they must be included in the purchasing "information." If you don't have such requirements, it wouldn't be appropriate to include them. :D

You might want to talk to your boss, explain that the finding is misguided, and ask if he wants to impose QMS requirements on suppliers. If he does, then the requirements will have to be properly defined and documented.

It is important to remember that whatever you flow down to your Suppliers, you have to manage it.:)