Customer Approval of New Products - First articles prior to release to production

M

mshell

#1
We have a system in place that requires customer approval of first articles prior to release to production. The customer signifies approval by signing off on the First Article inspection report and returning the signed document to our organization for inclusion in our records and formal release to production. In some cases, the customer does not return the signed FA but they submit purchase orders for the product. In the past, we have accepted customer purchase orders as an indication of part approval. The new CS/PDM and I do not agree with this practice as the people ordering the product and the people approving the product are different.

We are looking at:

1. Requiring the president and/or CS/PDM to sign off on all purchase orders if the customer has not approved the FA parts (only if they know that the parts are accurate).
2. Indicating on the customer invoice that the parts are still in development phase, will require more lead time and will not be formally released to production until the signed FA has been returned.

Will registrars find this practice acceptable or are we opening ourselves up for a major nonconformance?
 
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Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#2
mshell said:
We have a system in place that requires customer approval of first articles prior to release to production. The customer signifies approval by signing off on the First Article inspection report and returning the signed document to our organization for inclusion in our records and formal release to production. In some cases, the customer does not return the signed FA but they submit purchase orders for the product. In the past, we have accepted customer purchase orders as an indication of part approval. The new CS/PDM and I do not agree with this practice as the people ordering the product and the people approving the product are different.

We are looking at:

1. Requiring the president and/or CS/PDM to sign off on all purchase orders if the customer has not approved the FA parts (only if they know that the parts are accurate).
2. Indicating on the customer invoice that the parts are still in development phase, will require more lead time and will not be formally released to production until the signed FA has been returned.

Will registrars find this practice acceptable or are we opening ourselves up for a major nonconformance?
Before creating a whole new set of processes, why not just ASK those customers for an acknowledgement of FA?

In many organizations, a similar process is in place as part of Contract Review (i.e. "Do we have complete approval from customer that FA or PPAP are accepted?")

I think it is simple enough to deal with an acknowledgement (even email) which identifies the FA test in question, rather than a signoff on the FA paperwork itself. (Reason: simply having FA pass an incoming inspection is not always the same as "approval" in many customer companies.)
 
J

Jim Biz

#3
In my world - we delt with customer "inaction" as far as documented acceptance by asking for a "dated letter" from their respective Qa departments on their letterhead - I've frogotten :mad: the actual wording but it went something like this.

As of (this Date) all documented first part inspections evidence shall be considered valid and accepted if Not rejected within 7 days of fax or e-mail transmission.

The producer will maintain all dated first part records and re-issue along with the first ordered shipment and/or by direct request form (the named representative)

I see no opportunity for a MAJOR being issued in any case.. after all..
If it satisfies your customer to order or accept product without collecting,reviewing or sigining off on and returning inspection paperwork it should be in your best interest to make that as easy as possible for them..
 
Last edited by a moderator:
M

mshell

#4
Thank you for the responses. I had a feeling that we were putting too much thought into this one. :bonk:

:thanx:
 
J

Jim Howe

#5
Over the years I have performed many FAR's and PPAP's and seen vast differences in the way the customer handles them. In one instance the customer simply wants them to be accomplished and filed at the supplier for future reference, in another instance the customer will send a third party to witness it (I have actually been that third party), still another the required samples are pulled from the first production run with the results sent with the first production shipment (usually this is a seperate line item on the PO). My point is that there are so many different approaches to the topic we let the customer decide and if the customer says this is the way it shall be then how can any auditor say different.

I believe Wes is on the right track that it should be part of the contract review. We agree up front with our customer how it shall be handled.
 
D

D.Scott

#6
"As of (this Date) all documented first part inspections evidence shall be considered valid and accepted if Not rejected within 7 days of fax or e-mail transmission."

The IASG has disallowed this for the automotive industry. There was an official interpretation published a few years back but I can't find it right now - I will look further if someone really needs it.

Dave
 

The Taz!

Quite Involved in Discussions
#7
D.Scott said:
"As of (this Date) all documented first part inspections evidence shall be considered valid and accepted if Not rejected within 7 days of fax or e-mail transmission."

The IASG has disallowed this for the automotive industry. There was an official interpretation published a few years back but I can't find it right now - I will look further if someone really needs it.

Dave
Probably because Moi would use that for 8D's that the customer/competitor wouldn't sign as agreement. Implicated them. . . Blame The Taz!
 
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