Supplier & Vendor Quality Requirements

The requirements below apply to all suppliers and sub-tier suppliers to Low Country Aerospace Services (LCAS) providing materials and services regarding LCAS AS9100D compliant manufacturing. Acceptance of a Purchase Order from LCAS binds the supplier to the requirements listed in this document. The supplier is not authorized to outsource any portion of the Purchase Order requirements unless specifically authorized by LCAS and shall flow down these requirements to any sub-tier suppliers. These requirements correspond with LCAS customer requirements as well as the requirements of AS9100D, Clause 8.4.3.

A. LCAS’s Purchase Order provides information on the processes, products, and services to be provided including the identification of relevant technical data (e.g. Specifications, drawings, process requirements, work instructions)

B. Every order shall be provided with a certificate of analysis (C of A) or certificate of conformance (C of C). Material certifications shall show quantitative analysis of each element and physical testing as required by specifications referenced. Traceability for raw materials is required and shall be retained and provided to LCAS with product. Final acceptance of product shall be at LCAS after receiving inspection.

C. The supplier shall ensure that employees and people working on its behalf are competent and trained in accordance with the requirements of AS9100D, where applicable.

D. In addition to the other requirements within this document, suppliers shall hold all information received from LCAS in confidence and no third-party request for information shall be authorized unless approved, in writing, by LCAS.

E. LCAS shall evaluate suppliers based on quality, on-time delivery, regulatory compliance and/or service, as applicable. Suppliers shall be issued corrective action requests as required. Suppliers that fail to perform in these areas may be issued further corrective action requests and may be considered for probation or removal from LCAS Register of Approved Suppliers. LCAS expects 100% on time delivery. If the agreed upon delivery cannot be met, the appropriate LCAS management must be notified in advance. If LCAS supplier evaluation identifies a supplier with an on time delivery rate of less than 95% a corrective action may be issued.

F. LCAS and its customers reserve the right to perform verification and/or validation activities at the supplier’s premises. LCAS shall give reasonable notice and explanation to the supplier prior to any on-site visit. The on-site visit may include surveillance of the suppliers’ facilities, procedures, production methods, and the suppliers’ QMS. The supplier shall provide, at no cost to LCAS, the required data applicable to purchase orders, specifications, and inspection to facilitate any on-site inspection/audit/surveillance activity.

G. LCAS does not design customers’ products and has elected to exclude AS9100Dsection 8.3 from the QMS.

H. The 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 measuring.

I. Suppliers shall have and maintain a Quality Management System which is acceptable and appropriate for the items or services supplied. Approved suppliers shall establish, implement, and maintain a process for the recall of monitoring admeasuring equipment requiring calibration or verification. The supplier shall maintain a quality / inspection system that shall ensure all goods and services conform to contract requirements whether manufactured or processed by the supplier or procured from any approved sub-tier suppliers.

J. The supplier shall use a sampling plan for product acceptance that is consistent with typical industry standards, unless otherwise specified or agreed upon in writing by LCAS.

K. When specifically requested by LCAS in writing, suppliers shall maintain a QMS incompliance with AS9100D and/or approved by LCAS QA. When required by LCAS or its customers, suppliers shall use customer-specified sources. The supplier shall notify LCAS of nonconforming processes, products or services and obtain approval for their disposition. To prevent the purchase of counterfeit, suspect or unapproved products and to ensure identification and traceability, the supplier shall plan, implement, and control processes, appropriate to the organization and the product for the prevention of counterfeit or suspect counterfeit part use and their inclusion in product(s) delivered to LCAS. Suppliers shall flow down to sub-tier suppliers the applicable requirements as required by the purchase order either specifically or by reference. When requested by LCAS or its customers, the supplier shall provide test specimens for inspection, verification, investigation and/or auditing purposes. Unless otherwise specified on the purchase order, the latest specification revision in effect at the time of manufacture/processing shall apply. All certifications, test reports, and inspection reports, as well as receiving inspection, in-process inspection, final inspection, and calibration records shall be maintained for a minimum of seven years, unless otherwise specified by LCAS, and shall be made available upon request to LCAS, its customers, or regulatory agency upon request. The supplier shall notify LCAS of any changes in ownership, management, location, product, or process that affect LCAS product or services.

L. LCAS, its customers, and regulatory authorities shall have right of access to the applicable areas of suppliers and suppliers’ sub-tiers facilities and applicable documented information, at any level of the supply chain, as required.

M. LCAS’ suppliers shall be committed to the highest standards of ethics and business conduct, and shall comply with the law, act in good faith, honor commitments, and be accountable. Suppliers shall respect proprietary rights and intellectual property rights of customers and suppliers and take proper care to protect sensitive information, including confidential, proprietary, and personal information. The supplier shall support product safety by ensuring management of special requirements, critical items, and key characteristics. If any issues or concerns regarding product safety arise, the supplier shall notify LCAS and take measures to mitigate any issues. The supplier shall ensure that employees and people working on its behalf are aware of their contribution to product or service conformity, product safety, and the importance of ethical behavior.