Customer Notification for Supplier Process Change

[ChrisM]

If your supplier changes the country of origin of something that you supply to your customers, it is almost certain that you need to notify them... there may well be requirements that they have to compile data on how much content of their product comes from each different country (and you may well have the same requirement by your local legislation etc). If something changes, however minor, it can have serious knock-on effects.... look at the CMRT reporting requirements, for example

 

[Pawel Zelazowski]

If your supplier changes the country of origin of something that you supply to your customers, it is almost certain that you need to notify them... there may well be requirements that they have to compile data on how much content of their product comes from each different country (and you may well have the same requirement by your local legislation etc). If something changes, however minor, it can have serious knock-on effects.... look at the CMRT reporting requirements, for example

Yes, I agree. The main topic is what to do with the supplier (since the consequences do not follow VDA 2, even though they were declared and agreed upon). The question is also how to inform the customer in a gentle way: 'Dear Customer, our supplier's monitoring has proven to be "unreliable"'. It would be a lot cost - damages made by such like this changes by supplier are reflected to me direct.

 

[ChrisM]

"Dear customer, we have been informed by one of our suppliers that they have changed the country of origin of one of the items that they supply to us, which we then supply onwards to you......." You could then quantify this with details of the countries changed from/to, size/weight of item and volume supplied per annum etc

 

[Golfman25]

Moreover, this is a case of many similar issues. Every change, such as a plant location change, requires additional effort from the supplier. An easier approach is not to inform the customer about changes—such as a production plant change—and skip all the necessary efforts like meeting PPAP requirements (in our case, it’s always level 3, which is the most costly). The assumption is that the customer will never find out; if they do, we'll figure out what to do at that point.

And I'm the customer How should I proceed? What do you think?
P.S. I can't change the supplier (no alternatives), and I have to inform my customer (as per IATF requirements).

Absent a formal system from the customer, I would contact their supplier quality and/or purchasing representative and let them know of the change. They can take if from there.

 

[optomist1]

Some OEMs have a Change Notice (CN) system that also captures changes not directly related to form fit or function of a part...i.e. "moved a machine within the plant, or otherwise "seemingly insignificant, meaningless" changes". It is best practice to collaborate and confer with the customer in a timely open manner...

 

[Johnnymo62]

If one of your customers is Ford, they will definitely want to be involved involved with any sub-supplier parts mentioned in the SCCAF. This used to include the eSREA approval process and bank builds.

There is no guarantee the new sub-supplier facility will make parts that meet drawing requirements. A bank build will give your sub-supplier time to tune in the new process/facility.

 

[Bev D]

Just call your Customer. You gain nothing by delaying