Quality Clauses for Purchase Orders
THE FOLLOWING QUALTIY CLAUSES APPLY TO THE DEGREE IDENTIFIED ON THE BUYER’S PURCHASE ORDER
** THE FOLLOWING QUALITY CLAUSES APPLY TO ALL SUPPLIER PURCHASE ORDERS PLACED AFTER 08/26/2024 **
For purchase orders placed on or before 08/26/2024, click here.
The Supplier/Seller shall maintain the identification and revision status of the Strand Products’ specifications, drawings, process requirements, inspection/verification instructions and other relevant technical data.
Unless otherwise specified, Supplier/Seller agrees to adhere to meeting or exceeding 95% on-time delivery of product and 98% product quality ratings.
Neither inspections and/or tests performed by Strand Products’ or their third party representive, at either the Supplier/Seller’s or Strand Products’ facility, nor the Supplier/Seller’s compliance with all applicable product/quality assurance requirements shall relieve the Supplier/Seller of their responsibility to furnish items which conform to the requirements of the purchase order.
Supplier/Seller and their sub-tier shall comply with all requirements stated on the Strand Products’ purchase order, drawing, data specifications and process instructions to ensure product conformity. Product acceptance inspection may require up to 100% for all characteristics.
The Supplier/Seller shall adhere to all Quality Clauses associated with any quote, purchase order, or contract and shall flow down these associated quality clauses and any key characteristics to all of their sub-tier suppliers.
The Supplier/Seller shall notify and obtain written approval from Strand Products for changes in design, manufacturing or assembly processes, manufacturing location or source of supply of their products, whenever such changes affect applicable Strand Products’ orders, prior to the contemplated change, regardless of magnitude.
At the request of Strand Products, the Supplier/Seller shall perform a First Article Inspection (FAI) of one or more parts from the first production lot, or as required by Strand Products. The FAI shall consist of recorded actual drawing specification values, and/or requirements (dimensional, test data, processes, drawing notes, etc.) and may be documented on a separate report form. Strand Products may require that the FAI follow the current revision of the AS9102. The FAI part(s) shall be clearly identified by a tag attached to the part(s) or a label applied to the bag, and a copy of the FAI shall accompany the FAI part(s). Strand Products reserves the right to verify any or all of the characteristics documented on the FAI report at the Supplier/Seller’s facility.
Source Inspections shall be conducted by Strand Products, or it’s assigned Third Party, at the Seller’s facilities or where designated on the Strand Products purchase order and prior to shipment. The Supplier/Seller shall notify Strand Products of the scheduled inspection/test in advance of the shipment. The Supplier/Seller shall make available any required drawings, specifications or other related documents as well as any tools, gages, or other inspection instruments necessary to establish conformance of the part(s) including personnel with the requisite skills to operate such devices. The Supplier/Seller shall provide reasonable assistance and facilities to Strand Products or its assigned Third Party representatives. Prior to the start of production, the Supplier/Seller and Strand Products shall determine the process steps at which the Source Inspection shall be conducted.
Strand Products reserves the right to schedule an on-site surveillance audit at the Supplier/Sellers facillity for the purpose of reviewing Supplier/Seller’s Quality Management System (QMS) or any special processes. Strand Products shall notify the Supplier/Seller in advance of the intended audit to determine a schedule that acommidates both part. Strand Products inspection/acceptance of product prior to shipment is not required unless otherwise specified.
With appropriate notice, Strand Products, along with their customers and regulatory authorities shall be afforded the right of access to all of the Supplier/Seller’s premises at any level of the supply chain and the right to verify that the contracted work, all applicable records and material conforms to specified requirements. Where unique Special/Security clearance is required, the Supplier/Seller will work to provided alternative methods of accommodation as needed.
The Supplier/Seller shall establish and maintain a Quality Management System (QMS) that is acceptable by Strand Products. It is preferable that the Supplier/Seller’s QMS meet current requirements of AS9100, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, or similar.
The Supplier/Seller shall establish and maintain a documented Corrective Action (CA) System to facilitate both internal and customer requested CA requests. When a quality problem exists, Strand Products may issue a CA request to the Supplier/Seller. The Supplier/Seller shall complete the CA request within the required time frame. Responses may be documented on a Strand Products’ supplied form or equivalent. Failure to comply could result in disqualification and removal from the Strand Products Approved Supplier List (ASL).
The Supplier/Seller shall establish and maintain a documented system to ensure nonconforming products are immediately identified and segregated from conforming products and held in a designated and controlled area for review and disposition. Any deviations from drawings, specifications or other requirements shall be submitted to Strand Products’ purchasing department for review and disposition. Any deviations must be approved in writing and submitted to the Supplier/Seller prior to being shipped to Strand Products.
The Supplier/Seller shall establish and maintain a documented system for calibration and maintenance of tools, jigs, inspection and test equipment that is compliant with an industry-recognized standard (e.g., ISO 17025, ISO 10012-1, ANSI Z540). The system shall ensure the timely recall and calibration of all measurement and test equipment used for product acceptance. Suitable records shall be maintained and be available for review.
The Supplier/Seller shall maintain records regarding Strand Products purchase order, specifications, drawings, process requirements, inspection/verification instructions and other relevant technical data. Records shall be maintained by the Supplier/Seller for a minimum of eleven years or as specified by Strand Products.
The Supplier/Seller shall establish and maintain a Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Protection Plan for the prevention of contamination or damage as a result of foreign objects becoming entrapped in or on the Suppliers/Seller’s product during the manufacturing, assembly, testing or handling processes. Foreign Object “Debris” (FOD) is a substance, debris or article alien to the part(s) being produced which would potentially cause damage. Foreign Object “Damage” is any damage or incident attributed to a foreign object that may result in a degradation of the product’s required safety and/or performance characteristics.
The Supplier/Seller shall establish and maintain a Counterfeit Parts Detection, Prevention and Notification Plan. Parts manufactured and/or shipped to Strand Products containing suspect counterfeit parts or materials shall be identified as “Counterfeit Product” an shall be treated as nonconforming. “Counterfeit Product” means product that is an unlawful or unauthorized reproduction, substitution, or alteration that has been knowingly mismarked, misidentified, or otherwise misrepresented to be authentic, unmodified product from the original Manufacturer, or provided by a source without the express written authority of the original Manufacturer or current design activity, including an unauthorized aftermarket Manufacturer. Included is used product represented as unused or falsely identified by grade, heat number, serial number, lot number, date code, or performance characteristics. The Supplier/Seller shall immediately notify Strand Products of any known Counterfeit Products found during the production or shipments of parts supplied for Strand Products.
The Supplier/Seller and any of its subcontractors performing special processes, such as welding, non-destructive testing, heat treating, plating, anodizing, soldering, etc. shall submit a certification listing the specification designation/number and that the special process was performed in accordance with such specification. Heat treating/oven cure charts will be provided as required.
The Supplier/Seller shall maintain a method of traceability that ensures tracking of the supply chain back to the manufacturer of all items included in the part(s) being supplied. This traceability method shall clearly identify the name and location of all supply chain intermediaries from the manufacturer to the direct source of each Item for the Supplier/Seller and shall include the manufacturer’s batch identification for the Item such as but not limited to heat numbers, date codes, lot codes, serializations, or other batch identifications.
The Supplier/Seller shall include, in each shipment of parts or materials, a Certification of Conformance (CofC) indicating that the items have been manufactured, inspected, and/or tested, and meet the requirements of the purchase order. The minimum information on the CofC shall include the following: 1) date, 2) Strand Products’purchase order number, 3) Supplier/Seller’s name, 4)Strand Products’ part number, drawing number and/or specification number including revision, 5) statement of compliance to the terms of the purchase order, 6) signature of authorized company representative, 7) lot, batch, serial number(s) or other identification.
The Supplier/Seller shall submit certifications for the chemical and physical characteristics of all raw material(s) and/or processes, stating specifications, used in the manufacturing of the part(s) supplied. If outside processing is performed; a certification from subcontractor is to be provided. All certifications supplied must maintain heat number and/or lot traceability throughout each manufacturing process.
Where the Supplier/Seller utilizes sample inspection plans or other statistical techniques, these shall be statistically valid and may be submitted to Strand Products for approval prior to use. If the sample contains rejected items, the Supplier/Seller must, for the rejected feature or parameter, use a documented method, such as 100% screening to assure that zero rejects are present.
The Supplier/Seller shall package all material in a manner that will ensure protection against corrosion, oxidation, deterioration, contamination, and physical damage during shipment. Any special packaging requirements may be communicated to the Seller/Supplier via email, phone or on the Strand Products’ original or updated purchase order. All packaging must be labeled with Strand Products’ purchase order number. All packages shall include a pack list that contains Strand Products’ part number and revision, date of manufacturing (DOM), quantity ordered and shipped, and Strand Products’ purchase order number.
The Supplier/Seller shall employ competent personnel to ensure Strand Products requirements are met for approval of product, processes, procedures, and equipment.
Supplier/Seller shall ensure that all personnel are aware of:
- their contribution to product or service conformity,
- their contribution to product safety,
- and the importance of ethical behavior.
If applicable to the product, Supplier/Seller agrees to not knowingly supply products that contain “conflict minerals” as described in section 1502 of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or Dodd-Frank Legislation, regardless of if the Supplier/Seller is or is not a “Publicly Listed Company”.
