Purchase Order as the Authoritative Source for Requirements
Published .
Related
- AS9100
Topics
- purchase-order
- contract-review
- fai
- flow-down
- special-process
- specification-revision
- supplier-management
A supplier manufactured a part and submitted a First Article Inspection (FAI) package for review. The package included certifications for special processes and raw materials. During the prime contractor's review, the quality engineer compared the supplier's certifications against the engineering drawing and the purchase order (PO) requirements.
The FAI package revealed that a special process was performed to a specification revision that was outdated at the time the PO was placed. The PO explicitly called for the revision in effect at the time of order, but the processor used a previous version they had on file.
Key Takeaways
- The FAI was rejected due to nonconformance with the contractually flowed-down requirements.
- The supplier was required to obtain formal disposition for the deviation or re-process the parts, leading to production delays and administrative costs.
- The FAI package revealed that a special process was performed to a specification revision that was outdated at the time the PO was placed.
Best Practice
Treat the Purchase Order and its associated quality clauses as a primary source of contractual requirements, equal in authority to the engineering drawing. All personnel must meticulously verify that all processes and materials comply with the specific revisions and specifications cited in the PO, as this is a key verification activity within the AS9102 FAI process.
Reflects the recommended position based on community discussion and expert review.
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