Section J: AS9100 Supplier Flow Down Requirements

The Supplier requirements below apply to all Suppliers and sub-tier Suppliers to Vergent Products providing raw materials, manufactured components and products as well as performing material processing such as, but not limited to: heat treating; chemical processing; surface enhancements; non-destructive and destructive testing; coatings; welding; and nonconventional machining processes for Aerospace products.

Acceptance of a Purchase Order from Vergent Products binds the Supplier to the Terms and Conditions listed in the Purchase Order and the requirements listed in this document. The Supplier is not authorized to outsource any portion of the Purchase Order requirements unless specifically authorized by Vergent Products and must flow down these requirements to any sub-tier Suppliers. Note that these requirements correspond with the requirements of Vergent Products’ customers and with the requirements of AS9100D, Clause 8.4.3.

  1. The processes, products, and services to be provided including the identification of relevant
    technical data (e.g., specifications, drawings, process requirements, work instructions)

    Refer to Vergent Products’ Purchase Order and / or the Acknowledgement provided by
    Supplier.

  2. The approval of: products and services; methods, processes, and equipment; the release of
    products and services;

    Each shipment must be accompanied by one legible copy of a statement of
    conformance unless otherwise noted in the Purchase Order. A certificate of
    conformance (C of C), supplied with the shipment must provide at a minimum: Supplier
    name, part number, purchase order number, quantity of parts, engineering revision,
    serial numbers (if applicable), and title and name of authorized Supplier representative.
    Material certifications shall show quantitative analysis of each element and physical
    testing. Traceability for Raw Material is required and shall be retained and provided to
    Vergent Products with product. Where electrical testing is conducted, test data shall
    accompany the shipment.

  3. Competence, including any required qualification of persons;

    Supplier will ensure that employees and people working on its behalf are competent and
    trained.

  4. The Supplier’s interactions with the Vergent Products;

    In addition to the other requirements recorded within this document, Suppliers shall hold
    all information received from Vergent Products in confidence and no third party request
    for information will be authorized unless approved, in writing, by Vergent Products.

  5. Control and monitoring of Supplier’s performance to be applied by Vergent Products;

    Vergent Products will score Suppliers based on Quality and on-time Delivery. Suppliers
    must maintain a 97% quality and 95% on time score, calculated on a rolling three-month
    average. Suppliers that fail to perform in these areas may receive Corrective Actions and
    may be considered for probation or removal from Vergent Products’ Approved Supplier
    List.

  6. Verification or validation activities that Vergent Products, or its customer, intends to perform at
    Supplier’s premises;

    Vergent Products and its customers reserve the right to perform verification and/or
    validation activities at the Supplier’s premises.

  7. Design and development control;

    Design and development control does not apply to Vergent Products’ Suppliers, unless
    otherwise specified on our PO.

  8. Special requirements, critical items, or key characteristics;

    As per the requirements of AS9100D, Supplier is responsible for the validation, and
    periodic revalidation, of the ability to achieve planned results of the processes for
    production and service provision, where the resulting output cannot be verified by
    subsequent monitoring or measurement.

  9. Test, inspection, and verification (including production process verification);

    For calibration Purchase Orders, all gauges and instruments must be calibrated using
    standards whose accuracies are traceable to the National Institute of Standards and
    Technology or other appropriate body. All provided calibration certifications must
    specifically state this traceability.
    Supplier will maintain a quality/inspection system that will ensure all goods and services
    conform to contract requirements whether manufactured or processed by Supplier or
    procured from Sub-Tier Suppliers.

  10. The use of statistical techniques for product acceptance and related instructions for
    acceptance by Vergent Products;

    of 1 or 100% inspection, unless otherwise specified or agreed upon in writing by Vergent
    Products.

  11. The need to:

    • Implement a quality management system
      When specifically requested by Vergent Products in writing, Supplier will maintain
      a quality system in compliance to recognized Quality Management Systems
      and/or approved by Vergent Products.
    • Use customer-designated or approved external providers, including process sources
      (e.g., special processes);

      When required by Vergent Products or by Vergent Products’ customers, Suppliers
      will use customer specified sources.
    • Notify Vergent Products of nonconforming processes, products, or services and obtain
      approval for their disposition;

      Vergent Products will not accept Supplier product that does not meet Purchase
      Order requirements. Supplier product discovered after shipment by the Supplier
      to be nonconforming shall be immediately disclosed to Vergent Products upon
      discovery, including but not limited to quantity shipped, date shipped, and the
      extent of the nonconformance. Suppliers that receive notification of
      Nonconforming product shall take appropriate action to contain the
      nonconforming condition and prevent it from occurring again. The Supplier will
      be notified if formal Corrective Action is required to be submitted to Vergent
      Products. The response shall be submitted within 1 week of issue or a time frame
      agreed upon between Vergent Products and the Supplier. Errors with paperwork
      shall be resolved within 24 hours.
    • Prevent the use of counterfeit parts (see 8.1.4);
      To prevent the purchase of counterfeit or suspect / unapproved products and to
      ensure product identification and traceability (and for other reasons), Supplier will
      institute controls that include the requirement of Material Certificates, Certificates
      of Conformity, and/or other supporting documentation as is appropriate. Material
      and part substitutions are not allowed.
    • Notify Vergent Products of changes to processes, products, or services, including
      changes of their external providers or location of manufacture, and obtain Vergent
      Products’ approval;

      Supplier will notify Vergent Products of any change in ownership, management,
      or location and are subject to re-survey and approval. Supplier will notify Vergent
      Products of any product or process changes or changes in approval status that
      affect Vergent Products product and are subject to re-survey and approval.
    • Flow down to external providers applicable requirements including customer
      requirements;

      Suppliers shall flow-down to Sub-Tier Suppliers the applicable requirements as
      required by the purchase order either specifically or by reference.
    • Provide test specimens for design approval, inspection/verification, investigation, or
      auditing;

      When requested by Vergent Products or its customers, Supplier will provide test
      specimens for inspection/verification, investigation and/or auditing purposes.
    • Retain documented information, including retention periods and disposition
      requirements;

      All certifications, test reports, and inspection reports, as well as receiving
      inspection, in-process inspection, final inspection, and calibration records shall be
      retained for a minimum of seven years, unless otherwise specified by Vergent
      Products. These records will be made available to Vergent Products, Vergent
      Products customers, or regulatory agency upon request.
    • Prevent Foreign Object Debris
      Supplier is required to establish and maintain a Foreign Object Debris (FOD)
      prevention program that employs appropriate housekeeping practices to assure
      timely detection and removal of residue/debris generated, during operations
      and normal daily tasks.
  12. The right of access by Vergent Products, Vergent Products’ customer, and regulatory authorities
    to the applicable areas of facilities and to applicable documented information, at any level of
    the supply chain;

    Vergent Products and Vergent Products’ customers reserve the right to perform an on-
    site inspection of the Supplier’s facility or visit the facility. Vergent Products will give reasonable notification to the Supplier prior to the on-site inspection. The on-site
    inspection may include surveillance of the Supplier’s facilities, procedures, production
    methods, processes, and the Supplier’s Quality System. The Supplier shall furnish, at no
    cost, the necessary data as required by applicable drawings, Purchase Order,
    specifications, and inspection instructions to facilitate the on-site inspection.

  13. Ensuring that persons are aware of: their contribution to product or service conformity; their
    contribution to product safety; the importance of ethical behavior.

    Supplier must be committed to the highest standards of ethics and business conduct.
    Supplier must comply with the law, honor commitments, act in good faith, and be
    accountable. Supplier must strive to maintain full compliance with all laws and regulations
    applicable to the operation of the business and customer relationships. Supplier must not
    offer, promise, authorize, or provide, directly or indirectly, anything of value (including
    business gifts or courtesies) with the intent or effect of inducing anyone to engage in unfair
    business practices. Supplier will avoid involvement in activities that may be perceived as a
    conflict-of-interest. Supplier will respect the legitimate proprietary rights and intellectual
    property rights of customers and Suppliers and take proper care to protect sensitive
    information, including confidential, proprietary and personal information. Supplier will support
    product safety by ensuring robust management of special requirements, critical items and
    key characteristics. If there are concerns with respect to product safety, Supplier will
    communicate them to Vergent Products. If there is a concern at the Supplier’s premises with
    respect to safety during the manufacture of the product, Supplier will notify its own
    employees of the concern and whenever possible, mitigate the concern. Supplier will ensure
    that employees and people working on its behalf are aware of:

    • Their contribution to product or service conformity
    • Their contribution to product safety
    • The importance of ethical behavior