IMDS Submissions for multiple parts requested, but not Design Responsible

[Jim Wynne]

Not really. Maybe in whether it passes, but not in reporting. Whatever components or raw materials you receive, you are responsible to know their content before passing it onto the next tier. The choice of those materials may be you if you are design responsible, or very far from you if you are tiered away from the design. But you are responsible to report, and the best ways to do it is to have your suppliers report to you.

I'm confused, which is probably a function of my own ignorance. Are we confusing IMDS data with MSDS (or RoHS) data? As I understand it, the customer who's asking for (according to the OP) IMDS information should have (a) specified the use of certain materials and (B) known that the requisite IMDS listings exist. In other words, the customer says that some material x is required (to the exclusion of other, similar materials), and is asking for IMDS information as evidence of the OP having used the correct specified material. Am I off base?

 

[Manix]

I'm confused, which is probably a function of my own ignorance. Are we confusing IMDS data with MSDS (or RoHS) data? As I understand it, the customer who's asking for (according to the OP) IMDS information should have (a) specified the use of certain materials and (B) known that the requisite IMDS listings exist. In other words, the customer says that some material x is required (to the exclusion of other, similar materials), and is asking for IMDS information as evidence of the OP having used the correct specified material. Am I off base?

That's not my experience of IMDS, it is a system for reporting material content within your automotive products, not to verify that correct material subsitutions have been made. The customer may have no knowledge of material content until you make the submission in many cases.

The issue in the OPs case is getting data from the sub-supply to compile a valid IMDS submission, something I am all too familiar with.

 

[bobdoering]

When you buy widgets, you have to spec. those out. If you are not design responsible (customer requirements, reliability, etc) , how do you spec. these?

It does not matter what the spec is, all you need to know is what is in it for IMDS. If the spec says "thread sealant 940", then put it on the part - but the sealant applicator has to tell you if it has 45% Teflon, and 55% titanium dioxide - and he gets that info form the chemical supplier - not the part designer.

 

[bobdoering]

I'm confused, which is probably a function of my own ignorance. Are we confusing IMDS data with MSDS (or RoHS) data? As I understand it, the customer who's asking for (according to the OP) IMDS information should have (a) specified the use of certain materials and (B) known that the requisite IMDS listings exist. In other words, the customer says that some material x is required (to the exclusion of other, similar materials), and is asking for IMDS information as evidence of the OP having used the correct specified material. Am I off base?

Yes, you are. IMDS is actually much more like RoHS reporting than PPAP submission verification that it meets the print (although the IMDS number is required on the warrant - but that is pass-through reporting data.) In fact, the OEM only checks for nasty chemicals on the reporting to pass or fail it - not correct or incorrect materials to spec. The spec is not tied to the IMDS system at all.