AS9100D Engineering sample purchases - Supplier not approved

[Stefan Mundt]

Hello,

I have a question regarding Engineering sample purchases.
Our New Product Development team realized recently that the company credit card could be used to order product samples.
Unfortunately the team does not always order from approved suppliers.

Question: Is that allowed during the Product Development Phase?

Thank you!

 

[John Predmore]

Your team "recently" discovered a loophole. Your next statement implies they are exploiting the loophole.

There are two possible concerns here, buying from a non-approved source and circumventing established financial or purchase department controls. If your company makes a policy which does not allow such purchases, then they are not allowed.

Since this question is posted in the ASD section, I think you are asking if such purchases are allowed under AS9100. The bullet a) under 8.4.1 speaks of controls when "products and services from external providers are intended for incorporation into the organization’s own products and services".

Your engineering folks may argue that these samples will not be incorporated into product sold to customers, or even if prototypes are sold to customers, they are not "products" in the true sense of the word. But the intent of product development is there is a high likelihood that someday salable product based on the new design will be sold. It is best to avoid the gray area, or define your boundaries around the gray area, with a company policy restricting credit card purchases IMO.

 

[Stefan Mundt]

Thank you John,

That was very helpful!

 

[Big Jim]

I think you likely do not need to worry about purchases made for new product development.

Take another look at 8.4.1 a-c.

You need to determine what controls are needed for purchasing when what you are purchasing goes into your product, is being drop shipped, or when you outsource a process or part of a process.

It looks to me that none of those three situations applies when doing development.