PPAP'ed part manufacturer has discontinued production

[OntheJob]

A PPAP issue that I never expected has occurred - due to low purchase volume the part manufacturer dropped our company as a customer and refuses any quality support (last production run/purchase was 2018). The PPAP'ed part is for an automotive account requiring annual quality support documentation . Has anyone had this happen?????

 

[Jim Wynne]

What does "annual quality support documentation" mean?

 

[Miner]

Judging from low-volume remark, I would guess this either refers to the requirement to re-PPAP product produced from tooling that has been inactive for volume production for 12 months or more, or to a CSR for annual layouts. Most likely the former.

To answer the question, I have seen this a few times. Both times it was resolved through renegotiation, which usually entailed price increases and minimum buys.

 

[Jim Wynne]

If the thing hasn't been produced or purchased for three years, one has to wonder what has been done about annual documentation in the interim.

 

[OntheJob]

What does "annual quality support documentation" mean?

Hi, Jim.
ISO/IATF certs under a year, applicable CQI assessments under a year, annual trade documents...
in Feb 2021 I pulled samples from existing inventory from 2018 and manufacturer provided PPAP from those samples, which was accepted by customer.

 

[Jim Wynne]

Hi, Jim.
ISO/IATF certs under a year, applicable CQI assessments under a year, annual trade documents...
in Feb 2021 I pulled samples from existing inventory from 2018 and manufacturer provided PPAP from those samples, which was accepted by customer.

So the last lot produced was in 2018, and you've been supplying documentation based on that lot since then. It makes no sense, frankly. You should have contacted the customer a long time ago and explained that there should be no need to provide annual documentation until a new lot is produced. That's what you should do now, only explaining that the supplier in question will no longer be used.

 

[OntheJob]

Thanks, Jim. That is what we've just done.

 

[Johnnymo62]

I have used older material certs (up to 3 years old) and provided a statement/cert saying we are still using product made from that lot/delivery for our current production. This has always been accepted for automotive and military annual PPAPs or certs.