Part Numbers and Qualified Suppliers - Put supplier name in the actual drawing sheet?

[gheghe]

Is it advisable or required to have those supplier/vendor part numbers (aside from our part number) and vendor name (qualified) in the actual drawing sheet? Our quality manager said that without those , we leave ourselves open to buy from another vendor. Any input pals. thanks.

 

[howste]

...without those, we leave ourselves open to buy from another vendor.

If you don't want to buy from other vendors, there are other ways to control it. I think it causes extra work and restricts your flexibility in purchasing. If you ever want to buy from another vendor you would need to change the drawing. I have seen it done before though...

 

[David Hartman]

Is it advisable or required to have those supplier/vendor part numbers (aside from our part number) and vendor name (qualified) in the actual drawing sheet? Our quality manager said that without those , we leave ourselves open to buy from another vendor. Any input pals. thanks.

In the US Defense industry we refer to drawings that specify the vendor and their part number as a "Source Control" drawing, and where it is necessary to ensure the use of a single source of supply they have value. But some of the downside effects include the fact that you're virtually locked into that supplier's demands/limits with regard to price and part availability.

The ability to multi-source supplies gives you the freedom to negotiate price and choose a source that may not necessarily be the lowest in price but is more consistent in product quality (consistent quality and negotiated low price - not a bad thing when you think about it. )

 

[Bill Ryan - 2007]

I agree wholeheartedly with Howste & Dave. One other thought - Customers tend to get "confused" very easily. Putting your part number (if different from the customer's) and then adding a Vendor part number to a customer drawing has the potential of putting your customer into that "confused" state (and, typically, they don't need any more help ).

(Bad attitude today )
Bill

 

[Wes Bucey]

Is it advisable or required to have those supplier/vendor part numbers (aside from our part number) and vendor name (qualified) in the actual drawing sheet? Our quality manager said that without those , we leave ourselves open to buy from another vendor. Any input pals. thanks.

When you are the customer, normal practice dictates your engineering drawing (the graphic) should list only your organization's part number. In an attached or "associated" [these are "terms of art" referring to documents] bill of materials, many organizations create a table which describes a source and, sometimes, the supplier's part number. The caution is that when a supplier revises that part, the page of YOUR document which contains the previous revision number becomes obsolete.

If, however, the intent is to single source the component, by all means, specify the supplier and the part number.

If you want the freedom to purchase equivalent parts from other suppliers, you need to insert the "weasel" language "or equivalent as confirmed by our engineering department."