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Phiobi
I recently audited a supplier (they paint parts for me). Whilst reviewing their quality manual I came across the following, within Document Control:
“It is not <company name> policy to control drawings.”
A bit of history to this is that last year I audited them and found that their manual stated they did control drawings, but they were not controlling them.
This specific section of their manual was updated the WEEK before my audit this year which is all a bit fishy to me.
Anyway, I have raised this as a major non-conformance. I had an ‘off the record’ chat with my AS9100 auditor and he was resolute that it was a major non-conformance.
Since I raised the issue they have asked me to cancel the NCR because...
“With reference to finding NC51, I have reviewed the control of documents clause in AS9100 and I have also spoken with our AS9100 certification body and I believe that we are compliant with clause 4.2.3 f) that you refer to. For the benefit of the persons copied on this e-mail, the clause states that a documented procedure shall be established to define the controls needed to:
f) Ensure that documents of external origin determined by the organisation to be necessary for the planning and operation of the quality management system are identified and their distribution controlled.
<company name> has such a procedure in place in which section 5 states “It is not <company name> policy to control drawings. All drawings are returned to the customer on completion of processing”.
The intention of this statement is that drawings are not controlled once the customer’s order is completed.
Whilst the drawing is on site it is controlled to the extent that the issue status is verified at contract review and the drawing accompanies our route card along with the customer’s purchase order.
Upon completion of the order the drawing is deemed to be no longer required and is returned with the parts.
Therefore because the drawing relating to a particular purchase order is under our control for the duration of processing, we deem to be compliant with the above clause.
To ensure we are all clear on the interpretation of this clause, I shall also seek advice from a couple of Senior Accreditation People I know (LLoyds, DNV).”
I know this is getting a bit long winded so I will get to the point. We send them a controlled drawing, we do not, as they state in their procedure send a new drawing for each order (500 orders per year) therefore it is my opinion that they should control drawings and have evidence of it.
I am tempted to add a major non-conformance for their contract review procedure. They state that a drawing is required with each order and we have not sent one with the past 300 orders....
Anyway, I guess what I’m asking is am I pushing a non-issue or should I stick to my guns and escalate this NCR issue? I am doing as my supplier referenced in his email... “I shall also seek advice from a couple of Senior Accreditation People I know (LLoyds, DNV).” But I'm going one step further and asking the Cove!!
“It is not <company name> policy to control drawings.”
A bit of history to this is that last year I audited them and found that their manual stated they did control drawings, but they were not controlling them.
This specific section of their manual was updated the WEEK before my audit this year which is all a bit fishy to me.
Anyway, I have raised this as a major non-conformance. I had an ‘off the record’ chat with my AS9100 auditor and he was resolute that it was a major non-conformance.
Since I raised the issue they have asked me to cancel the NCR because...
“With reference to finding NC51, I have reviewed the control of documents clause in AS9100 and I have also spoken with our AS9100 certification body and I believe that we are compliant with clause 4.2.3 f) that you refer to. For the benefit of the persons copied on this e-mail, the clause states that a documented procedure shall be established to define the controls needed to:
f) Ensure that documents of external origin determined by the organisation to be necessary for the planning and operation of the quality management system are identified and their distribution controlled.
<company name> has such a procedure in place in which section 5 states “It is not <company name> policy to control drawings. All drawings are returned to the customer on completion of processing”.
The intention of this statement is that drawings are not controlled once the customer’s order is completed.
Whilst the drawing is on site it is controlled to the extent that the issue status is verified at contract review and the drawing accompanies our route card along with the customer’s purchase order.
Upon completion of the order the drawing is deemed to be no longer required and is returned with the parts.
Therefore because the drawing relating to a particular purchase order is under our control for the duration of processing, we deem to be compliant with the above clause.
To ensure we are all clear on the interpretation of this clause, I shall also seek advice from a couple of Senior Accreditation People I know (LLoyds, DNV).”
I know this is getting a bit long winded so I will get to the point. We send them a controlled drawing, we do not, as they state in their procedure send a new drawing for each order (500 orders per year) therefore it is my opinion that they should control drawings and have evidence of it.
I am tempted to add a major non-conformance for their contract review procedure. They state that a drawing is required with each order and we have not sent one with the past 300 orders....
Anyway, I guess what I’m asking is am I pushing a non-issue or should I stick to my guns and escalate this NCR issue? I am doing as my supplier referenced in his email... “I shall also seek advice from a couple of Senior Accreditation People I know (LLoyds, DNV).” But I'm going one step further and asking the Cove!!
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