Subcontractor Requirements when a Customer Chooses the Subcontractor

D

Divij Chandwani

Hi Guys,

I just need to understand this - ISO standard mentions that a subcontractor needs to be evaluated and selected based on their ability to supply product in accordance with the organization's requirements. In a case when the subcontractor has been proposed by the customer, does the organization still need to evaluate the subcontractor and make sure that the desired quality of product is obtained.

My apologies if this question has been asked previously, but an answer or link would help a lot.

Thanks a lot.
 

somashekar

Leader
Admin
Re: Subcontractor Requirements

Yes, you are responsible to evaluate the subcontractor and make sure that the desired quality of product is obtained.
As a customer, he has done his bit to evaluate and select a supplier and has linked him to you. Your task to that extent is lessened by the customer, but not your responsibility towards quality of purchased parts.
Going forward if your assessment after purchasing shows concerns about quality of parts supplied, you must copy all corrective action requests to both supplier and customer who proposed him to you.
Practically he is your approved vendor, but your controls on the vendor and decisions taken must always be in consultation with the customer who recommended.
 
D

Divij Chandwani

Re: Subcontractor Requirements

Yes, you are responsible to evaluate the subcontractor and make sure that the desired quality of product is obtained.
As a customer, he has done his bit to evaluate and select a supplier and has linked him to you. Your task to that extent is lessened by the customer, but not your responsibility towards quality of purchased parts.
Going forward if your assessment after purchasing shows concerns about quality of parts supplied, you must copy all corrective action requests to both supplier and customer who proposed him to you.
Practically he is your approved vendor, but your controls on the vendor and decisions taken must always be in consultation with the customer who recommended.
Thank you, Mr. Somashekar.
 

harry

Trusted Information Resource
................ In a case when the subcontractor has been proposed by the customer, does the organization still need to evaluate the subcontractor and make sure that the desired quality of product is obtained. ......................

What industry are you in? Are you referring to 'Nominated Subcontractors'?
 
M

mortby

Fully agree with Somashekar, however, it might be worth asking your customer if they are willing to share any approval activities they have done with you before you launch into repeating a whole load of work.
It depends on the relationship you have with your customer and your confidence in their due diligence, but might be worth a shot?
 

Big Jim

Admin
Hi Guys,

I just need to understand this - ISO standard mentions that a subcontractor needs to be evaluated and selected based on their ability to supply product in accordance with the organization's requirements. In a case when the subcontractor has been proposed by the customer, does the organization still need to evaluate the subcontractor and make sure that the desired quality of product is obtained.

My apologies if this question has been asked previously, but an answer or link would help a lot.

Thanks a lot.

ISO 9001:2008 is silent on this matter. There is nothing in the standard to keep you from approving such a supplier based on the customer's requirement.

However that is really a bad business practice. AS9100C specifically speaks to this issue in that it points out that "The organization shall be responsible for the conformity of all products purchased from suppliers, including product from sources identified by the customer" (AS9100C 7.4.1).

AS9100C provides some more illumination on the matter in note 1 of 7.4.3 "Customer verification activities performed at any level of the supply chain should not be used by the organization or the supplier as evidence of effective control of quality and does not absolve the organization of its responsibility to provide acceptable product and comply with all requirements".

So with AS9100C it is clear that you still have responsibility for quality and need to control the supplier, and with ISO 9001:2008 there are no such stated restrictions, leaving the situation somewhat muddy at best.

Even though ISO 9001:2008 is silent, it is not a good idea to give such suppliers a pass.
 
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