Layout inspection - product family approach?

[StewiSch]

Hi folks,

we have just had a very intensive discussion on the layout inspection requirement of TS 16949. As supplier of roughly 1000 active parts to different OEM and Tier 1 customers we are looking for a way to improve efficiency of this special kind of "product audit".

Two of our main customers (Ford and GM) call for an annual layout inspection, around 5 Tier 1 customers join in. others are more VDA oriented and require layout inspection "upon request".

We would like to cover our about 20 customers with one internal process (also supporting our striving to TQM/EFQM).

Does anyone of you have experience with layout inspection performed not on parts but on part/product families? How would you react to such an approach from one of your suppliers?

Our internal discussion was very controversal ...

Thanks for sharing your comments and thoughts.
Steve

 

[bobdoering]

To tell you the truth, the best people to ask is your customers. Some recognize the benefit of spending time evaluating process improvement with your resources, versus rote inspection. Others will take the hard line. Once again, the correct answer to any question is "it depends."

Usually, it doesn't pay to try to outguess the customer...

 

[Howard Atkins]

FYI
There is no TS requirement to perform layout
The standard says

8.2.4.1 Layout inspection and functional testing
A layout inspection and a functional verification to applicable customer engineering material and performance standards shall be performed for each product as specified in the control plans. Results shall be available for customer review.

If there is no reference in the control plan then you do not have to perform a layout inspection.
You might put it in the Control Plan because the customer requires,or as I have seen there is a CB that requires it to be there with a frequency of at least every 3 years , apart from this the requirement is a customer specific.

Please note

4.2.5 Layout Inspection and Functional Test
Unless specified otherwise by a GM Procuring Division, there is no customer-established frequency for layout inspection after receiving production part approval (PPAP). Reference is made to ISO/TS 16949:2002, cl..8.2.4.1

So that has taken on OEM of your head!

I do not think a family approach will work.