What to look at when auditing the customer?

M

mircea2x13

#1
Hello. My name is Mircea and I'm from Romania.
I am working as a VSE for Solectron. Next week I am going to visit our customer in order to examine the way they are handling our products. Right now I don't know exactly what to look for. Please advise on this.

For the ones that don't know Solectron is producing PCBs of all types.

Thanks
 
Elsmar Forum Sponsor
T

Ted Schmitt

#2
Hello. My name is Mircea and I'm from Romania.
I am working as a VSE for Solectron. Next week I am going to visit our customer in order to examine the way they are handling our products. Right now I don't know exactly what to look for. Please advise on this.

For the ones that don't know Solectron is producing PCBs of all types.

Thanks
Hi Mircea, welcome to the Cove !!

I´m sure you´ll get answers from people much more specialized than I am, but here are my two cents...

If you are going to audit your customer on the way they are handling your products, do the audit based on the way that your organization handles the same products before they are shipped... look into temperature, humidity, eletrical discharges (possible), weight, stacking, safety...

Hope this helps...
 

Sidney Vianna

Post Responsibly
Staff member
Admin
#4
If you don't know what to look for why were you selected to do the audit?:confused:
So she is unbiased....:biglaugh: .
Joking aside, Randy knows this very well. Identify who initiated the audit, i.e., your sales folks, your QA folks, etc...==> once you identified who initiated the audit, contact them and ask why was this audit initiated, i.e., customer alleges receiving non-conforming product? Then you ask why are you being asked to assess how the customers are handling the product. Are there ESD concerns, packaging is inadequate, their carts/trays/handlers are not up to snuff? Then you identify what is the criteria for proper handling of the products. And finally, you identify if the customer practices are in line with the criteria defined in the previous step.
A very focused audit. But like Randy inferred, if you are not competent to determine if their ESD protection is adequate (as an example), it will be just a waste of time, effort and money..

Good luck.
 
F

Frank T.

#5
My :2cents: .....

IMO I would look at how the parts are store, handled, and assembled throughout the process, if applicable. Just to know how the parts function will give you a better idea of how important fit and form are to the specific part being audited. This will also give you a clearer understanding of the overall process of the parts.

Hope this gives you an idea...:)
 
A

Al Dyer

#6
Hello. My name is Mircea and I'm from Romania.
I am working as a VSE for Solectron. Next week I am going to visit our customer in order to examine the way they are handling our products. Right now I don't know exactly what to look for. Please advise on this.

For the ones that don't know Solectron is producing PCBs of all types.

Thanks

I'm thick headed but are you doing a true audit or are you visiting the customer to document how your product is handled and processed?

Al...
 

qcman

Registered Visitor
#7
In manufacturing one thing I try to do if able is look for causes of concerns the customer is having with your parts. Ask to see how a defect/issue effects them on the line. One time I had a rash of rejects from a customer and when I visited them in support I found the problem they said was do to our parts was really an issue cause at their plant. Tread lightly
 

Randy

Super Moderator
#9
Wait a minute! You're auditing the "customer"? Why in the devil would you audit your customer? You concern is their satisfaction and expectations and continued business, you don't audit that.

What business of yours is it on how I handle your product? I might want to buy something from you and torch it, bury it or toss it, Try to audit the way I handle your product and I'll tell you to pack sand.

Where did this requirement to audit originate?
 

Sidney Vianna

Post Responsibly
Staff member
Admin
#10
Firstly, English is not the native language in Romania. Secondly, in the body of the post, Mircea stated that a visit to the customer was going to take place, to see how they are handling the products.

Possible scenario: Customer calls Solectron Romania and states that their yield is bad. They are getting a lot of failed products. To what Solectron Romania responds: That is odd. All products shipped to you undergo 100% inspection and functional testing. This might be a problem induced by the customer's product handling process. In a way to assist with the failure analysis, Solectron Romania sends a process engineer to examine the customer's assembly line to see if they are inflicting damage to the product. Since we are talking PCB's here, ESD is a strong suspicion.
This possible or similar scenario (happens on a daily basis) could be the background for Mircea's visit to the customer.
What is so strange about it? The customer and Solectron have a vested interest to know if there is anything wrong with the way the products are being handled.
 
Thread starter Similar threads Forum Replies Date
D Auditing Suppliers - Supplier audit by a customer who is also a competitor Supplier Quality Assurance and other Supplier Issues 13
N Auditing Proof of Delivery signed by the customer - Determining Sample Size General Auditing Discussions 6
P Problems with TS 16949 CSR (Customer Specific Requirements) Auditing General Auditing Discussions 3
P Auditing CSR (Customer Specific Requirements) during TS 16949 Audit IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Systems Standard 17
C Audit Days vs. Customer Base - Auditing all of our customers and their specifications IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Systems Standard 4
S ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditing Internal Auditing 8
H Auditing Santa's workshop General Auditing Discussions 0
C List of MDSAP Auditing Organizations Medical Device and FDA Regulations and Standards News 1
A What are the pros and cons of using an audit software for internal auditing? General Auditing Discussions 7
cscalise Suggestions for MDR Auditing tools EU Medical Device Regulations 1
J Auditing of Support Function IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Systems Standard 9
D ISO 13485, FDA 21 CFR 820 and Auditing the Accounting Department ISO 13485:2016 - Medical Device Quality Management Systems 5
S Risk based internal auditing Internal Auditing 6
Randy Remote auditing (for disaster, disease, disturbance etc...) during the Neo Coronavirus Pandemic and Social Distancing Registrars and Notified Bodies 7
K ANVISA B-GMP Auditing requirements for Contract Manufacturers Other Medical Device Regulations World-Wide 1
F AS9100D Internal auditing requirements Internal Auditing 11
R Does any here use an internal auditing tool that works on different platforms? Internal Auditing 3
W Does anyone have an API Q2 checklist for internal auditing? Oil and Gas Industry Standards and Regulations 1
G Best Practices for IT auditing - Is a session-id necessary for a complete audit trail? IEC 27001 - Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) 0
I Questions to ask when auditing for Organizational Leadership and Planning for the QMS? ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 3
C CE marking for general IVD (self-certified) & ISO 13485 QMS requirements - auditing EU Medical Device Regulations 6
blackholequasar Internal Auditing Inspiration - Getting volunteers to perform internal audits. Internal Auditing 22
W Internal Auditing carried out by a 3rd party - Review of previous audits AS9100, IAQG, NADCAP and Aerospace related Standards and Requirements 3
tony s What is the automotive process approach for auditing? IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Systems Standard 2
S Internal Auditing for API Spec Q1 - auditor qualification requirements Oil and Gas Industry Standards and Regulations 6
R I've been auditing for a CB for 18 years General Auditing Discussions 10
P Consultant Auditing Qualifications Requirements ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 23
E Informational Internal Audits - Wear multiple hats what can and can't I audit (so I'm not auditing my own work) Internal Auditing 149
M We still have not received our certificate due to a 'backlog' with our auditing body Registrars and Notified Bodies 25
N Online Internal Auditing Course for ISO 13485 - Suggestions ISO 13485:2016 - Medical Device Quality Management Systems 8
A Agenda for 8D audit on Supplier's side - Auditing Corrective Actions General Auditing Discussions 5
U Internal auditing - Company employees or contract second party Internal Auditing 10
J Recomended Values - Auditing process in a supplier IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Systems Standard 18
M Canada - Registrars that allow e-auditing for ISO 9001? Registrars and Notified Bodies 4
K Internal Auditing - Umbrella QMS and Multiple Standards Oil and Gas Industry Standards and Regulations 4
D Auditing Our Outsourced 2nd-3rd Party Internal Audit Company ISO 13485:2016 - Medical Device Quality Management Systems 6
supadrai Auditing Organization dragging their heels on issuing our MDSAP Surveillance Audit Confirmation Letter - everyone is nervous ... are we the only ones? Canada Medical Device Regulations 7
Ed Panek Supplier Auditing - No purchases from our key suppliers in the last 24 months ISO 13485:2016 - Medical Device Quality Management Systems 5
P Auditing "process validation" process 21 CFR Part 820 - US FDA Quality System Regulations (QSR) 2
qualprod Effective Auditing advice needed ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 16
M Acceptance of remote auditing techniques - Can you help me with my research? General Auditing Discussions 0
GStough Auditing Against Criteria Unfamiliar to Auditee - Yea or Nay? General Auditing Discussions 11
qualprod Auditing Product and Services doubts ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 3
R Auditing support and management processes General Auditing Discussions 7
F It is acceptable moving remote locations staff to manufacturing plant for auditing? IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Systems Standard 3
D MSDS / GHS Walk-through / Auditing Occupational Health & Safety Management Standards 6
Pmarszal Supplier Auditing Services (Audit Needed?) General Auditing Discussions 4
S ISO 9001 Audit Observations - Transitioning my career into auditing Career and Occupation Discussions 16
G AS9101 Rev F - Worksheets for internal auditing AS9100, IAQG, NADCAP and Aerospace related Standards and Requirements 11
N API Q2 clause 6.2.2.1 Auditing Outsourced Suppliers Oil and Gas Industry Standards and Regulations 5

Similar threads

Top Bottom