AS9100 Clause 7.4.1 Purchasing Process and Approved Supplier List Records

[QE-Bob in Wisc]

If you have an Approved Vendor list and on this list you have vendors that you do not have any records of how they were evaluated to get on the list (such as a reg cert, survey, etc...) would you find that this fails to meet the requirement of "Records of evaluations ...are maintained". We do have records of quarterly evaluations of their performance.

Just curious

 

[Stijloor]

Re: 7.4.1 Purchasing Process

If you have an Approved Vendor list and on this list you have vendors that you do not have any records of how they were evaluated to get on the list (such as a reg cert, survey, etc...) would you find that this fails to meet the requirement of "Records of evaluations ...are maintained". We do have records of quarterly evaluations of their performance.

Just curious

An Approved Vendor list is not required by ISO 9001:2008. But records of approved suppliers (vendors) are. You must be able to demonstrate how and by what you decided that they are "worthy of your business."

Suppliers are considered those organizations that supply goods and services that have a direct impact on your organization's ability to meet your customer requirements. That would exclude, for example, toilet paper and pencils...

Stijloor.

 

[QE-Bob in Wisc]

Re: 7.4.1 Purchasing Process

Thanks, I must have miss lead you. I never said the list was required I said we have a list. The point I was trying to make was that we have no records of how we approved the use of these suppliers other than their quarterly performance data. Would this record be enough to sell you on how we approved them?

 

[Jeff Frost]

Re: 7.4.1 Purchasing Process

However under AS9100C Clause 7.4.1 (this post) you are required to have a register (list) of approved suppliers which contains a scope of approval for your organization needs. You are also required to have a defined process for approving a supplier, or removing a supplier, and who has the authority and responsibility for making these decisions. And lastly you are required to maintain records of supplier evaluations and actions arising from these evaluations.

 

[Jason PCSwitches]

Re: 7.4.1 Purchasing Process

Thanks, I must have miss lead you. I never said the list was required I said we have a list. The point I was trying to make was that we have no records of how we approved the use of these suppliers other than their quarterly performance data. Would this record be enough to sell you on how we approved them?

You need to have records. Review your procedure and determine how your organization selects, evaluates & reviews suppliers. If the procedure is lacking any of the aspects of 7.4.1, revise it.

If you are only lacking records, evaluate those suppliers by defined means. Request a copy of any certification or credentials, file them & you should be covered.

 

[amadisonr]

Re: 7.4.1 Purchasing Process

When you have a contractual obligation to use a specific supplier; are you obligated to keep the supplier on our ASL. The conversation around the office is no that it is the responsibility of the customer who requires that supplier.... my thoughts do we have to validate or verify that our customers have this required supplier in their system???

Auditors from our registrar are inclined to say we do have to have them on our ASL!!!!

 

[dsanabria]

Re: 7.4.1 Purchasing Process

Thanks, I must have miss lead you. I never said the list was required I said we have a list. The point I was trying to make was that we have no records of how we approved the use of these suppliers other than their quarterly performance data. Would this record be enough to sell you on how we approved them?

.

Step 1 - use the "Grandfather statement"- note this is only good for a one time only.

Step 2 - AS9100 says to: "b) periodically review supplier performance"

you need to describe how you do that.

Note: AS9100 gives you some guidelines - "NOTE One factor that can be used during supplier selection and evaluation is supplier quality data from objective and reliable external sources, as evaluated by the organization (e.g., information from accredited quality management system or process certification bodies, organization approvals from government authorities). Use of such data would be only one component of an organization's supplier control process and the organization remains responsible for verifying that purchased product meets specified purchase requirements".

Third you must demonstrate how this is done.

 

[dsanabria]

Re: 7.4.1 Purchasing Process

When you have a contractual obligation to use a specific supplier; are you obligated to keep the supplier on our ASL. The conversation around the office is no that it is the responsibility of the customer who requires that supplier.... my thoughts do we have to validate or verify that our customers have this required supplier in their system???

Auditors from our registrar are inclined to say we do have to have them on our ASL!!!!

you need to ask the team - how does purchasing or a new individual know who to use? - under what circumstances?. - when you come up with the answer , then you will see the purpose of an ASL.

Yes, You do not validate suppliers that customer have introduce to your line but.... you are responsible to use them and in case of non conformance- please do not hesitate to issue them and... provide a customer (Purchasing / Quality) with a copy of the NCR - make the customer aware of you pains.

 

[Big Jim]

Re: 7.4.1 Purchasing Process

When you have a contractual obligation to use a specific supplier; are you obligated to keep the supplier on our ASL. The conversation around the office is no that it is the responsibility of the customer who requires that supplier.... my thoughts do we have to validate or verify that our customers have this required supplier in their system???

Auditors from our registrar are inclined to say we do have to have them on our ASL!!!!

They had to be on the ASL at the time they were used. Should you disapprove them, you can show that they have been disapproved and cannot be used. You can choose to keep them on the list but in this disapproved status or you can remove them. There should be some sort of record to show they were approved at the time of use.

I have a feeling that you may be missing something very important concerning AS9100C (and AS9100B as well). That is that you need to control all suppliers, even those that your customer has mandated. Even if the customer requires you to use them, you are responsible for what you buy from them. It is your responsibility, not the customers.

 

[Big Jim]

If you have an Approved Vendor list and on this list you have vendors that you do not have any records of how they were evaluated to get on the list (such as a reg cert, survey, etc...) would you find that this fails to meet the requirement of "Records of evaluations ...are maintained". We do have records of quarterly evaluations of their performance.

Just curious

In my mind, you only need the current approval records. Once they are re-approved, and you have a record of the re-approval, you no longer need records of the original approval.