Need clarification of Table I.3.1, item 8 bulk materials only (shall notify customer when process/design changes occur), Versus table I.3.3 (Customer Notification isn't required) item 7 bulk materials only. If a company has design responsability for a bulk material, has an approved material, has an approved subcontractor who wants to add a second site for processing the material, there is no significant characteristics specified by the customer, does the supplier need to do customer notification?

I can't answer this one - how about one of you other folks?

Rule of thumb I always used when deciding if I should report a change: Is my company willing to be liable if the change results in a failure of my product? If the answer is "yes" then make the change and you dont need approval. If the answer is "no" then you may want to consider reporting it.