Can We Drop Our TE Supplement?

[RLBredeweg]

? TE Supplement / ISO9000-2000

I've been asked by our Senior Management to draft a letter to our Automotive Customers "FORD" specifically explain our position on maintaining our Quality System Registration to ISO9000-2000 and dropping the TE Supplement for "Cost Cutting Reasons." Can anybody enlighten me as to Ford's position on this? Ford is a very small portion of our business but we don't want to do anything that would put us in an awkward position with them for any future opportunities. Maybe an example of a letter someone has written I could use as an example to draft this letter???

Thanks in advice for any help received

Ron

 

[Randy Stewart]

Ron,
Have you received Q-1 based on TE? If so Ford isn't letting go of TE. However, a good hard look at the ISO & TE standards can keep the requirements for TE in place. Last word I had from Russ Hopkins (some months ago now) was that the rewrite was in progress.

 

[Randy Stewart]

NO TE for ISO 9k2k

I was just unofficially informed that the new word is NO TE SUPPLEMENT FOR ISO9K2K.
TE certified companies are encouraged to seek ISO9k2k registration and the new deadline for ONLY the TE companies is hinted at sometime in '06.

I'll let you know as soon as I find out more info.

Now back to your normally scheduled programming.

 

[db]

I was just unofficially informed that the new word is NO TE SUPPLEMENT FOR ISO9K2K.
TE certified companies are encouraged to seek ISO9k2k registration and the new deadline for ONLY the TE companies is hinted at sometime in '06.

I'll let you know as soon as I find out more info.

Now back to your normally scheduled programming.

The last word I heard was there would be no TE supplement to TS either, final, end of discussion. But in the same breath they said, although we are looking at the situation. Then, how can it be final, end of discussion (this was from a DCX person).

 

[Randy Stewart]

Well, I had this in my mail box this morning.

Ford is working on developing a replacement for the TE supplement based on ISO 9001:2000. That is not ready yet. You should remain certified to QS-9000 TE supplement until otherwise informed.

Russ Hopkins
Ford Motor Company
Supplier Technical Assistance


Remember, Russ is the Ford rep to the Task Group.

 

[Randy Stewart]

Follow-up

Just passing along some more info that I received this morning. This could become a very interesting re-write.

Is the replacement for TE just a Ford initiative? I've also heard that a DCX rep said that they were unofficially dropping the TE requirements.
[Hopkins, Russ (R.)] Yes, exactly it is a Ford only initiative, but DC has indicated, unofficially, that they plan to review the Ford TE requirements, when we have completed them.

 

[barbt]

I too have heard within the past month from our supplier quality rep that unofficially, DCX is dropping the TE requirement. Unfortunately, they don't have an 'official' recommendation for us as our QS9000-TE certification expires. Conversationally, they recommend ISO 9k2k, but nothing in writing.

From what I have heard, they are waiting for Ford and GM to move on this. What a mess.

 

[db]

An Updatae

I just noticed a change in DCX requirements for TE Companies. They are going to require ISO 9001:2000, BUT the registrar and the auditor must be approved for ISO/TS 16949.

I find this interesting.

 

[Rob Nix]

Yes, Dave, I saw the same thing (DaimlerChrysler letter dated 2/20/04). It says, for others reading this thread, for TE Supplement registered Tooling and Equipment suppliers, "ISO-9001:2000 will become the sole requirement after QS9000 expires", but adds "certification shall be obtained from a TS16949 approved registrar and auditor"

I thought it strange as well, but since our registrar (NSF-ISR) is approved, I gave it no further thought.

We'll probably hear more in the next year or so I imagine.