Uncontrollable TS 16949 audit finding - Committing to delivery dates we can't meet

[Casey Cochran]

We had a TS 16949 audit about a month ago and our accessor gave my scheduling department a minor finding because they release orders and commit to dates they know we can not reach. Fine, I understand that but, they have no control over what gets scheduled. Basicilly, all the scheduling department does is priortize orders. Corporate does all the scheduling. We faught it hard, but could not get through. Our only customer is our sister facilities. Now, he will be back through this month to check up on how we are doing with this and we can not figure out where to begin... What do you think?

[JRKH]

I don't know much about TS but, if nothing else I would make sure that any discussions - contacts with corporate - or any ideas you've explored are recorded so that the auditor will know that you have not ignored the finding.

I too will be interested in the input from others because we have some of the same issues here. We are ISO not TS but it is certainly troublesome when you're trying to measure delivery.

James

[Al Rosen]

Originally Posted by Casey Cochran

We had a TS 16949 audit about a month ago and our accessor gave my scheduling department a minor finding because they release orders and commit to dates they know we can not reach. Fine, I understand that but, they have no control over what gets scheduled. Basicilly, all the scheduling department does is priortize orders. Corporate does all the scheduling. We faught it hard, but could not get through. Our only customer is our sister facilities. Now, he will be back through this month to check up on how we are doing with this and we can not figure out where to begin... What do you think?

First let me say that I am not familiar with all the details of TS 16949 so I may be off base but, the assessor wrote a finding during the audit of your scheduling department not that he gave your scheduling department a minor finding. Now it is up to you and your organization to determine the root cause and implement a corrective action. So, perhaps there are contract review issues. I am not familiar with your process so I can't determine how to solve this for you, I am just suggesting that you look at the problem from other perspectives. You may determine that the scheduling department needs to be part of the process that determines the schedule not just the priority. You probably should discuss the finding with "corporate" when determining your root cause and c/a.

[howste]

Originally Posted by Casey Cochran

We had a TS 16949 audit about a month ago and our accessor gave my scheduling department a minor finding because they release orders and commit to dates they know we can not reach. Fine, I understand that but, they have no control over what gets scheduled. Basicilly, all the scheduling department does is priortize orders. Corporate does all the scheduling. We faught it hard, but could not get through. Our only customer is our sister facilities. Now, he will be back through this month to check up on how we are doing with this and we can not figure out where to begin... What do you think?

Per the TS rules, it sounds like your corporate site should be listed as a support site and subject to audit just as you are. If the schedule is really outside the control of your site, then corporate should be the ones addressing the corrective action.