Supplier Quality Requirements
Performance Requirements for Suppliers
To ensure that suppliers meet the organization’s quality requirements, Control Cutter has implemented a supplier registration and approval process. This process involves several steps:
- Supplier identification: The organization identifies potential suppliers based on their product or service offerings, quality standards, and other relevant factors such as previous experience, recommendations, or references.
- Supplier evaluation: The organization evaluates potential suppliers to determine if they meet the organization’s quality requirements. This evaluation may include a review of the supplier’s quality management system, performance metrics, and other relevant factors through a supplier self-assessment questionnaire.
- Supplier approval: Once a supplier has been evaluated and meets the organization’s quality requirements, they are approved as a supplier.
- Supplier monitoring: The organization monitors the performance of approved suppliers to ensure continued compliance with quality requirements.
- Supplier review: The organization periodically reviews the performance of approved suppliers to ensure ongoing adherence to quality standards.
By implementing this supplier registration and approval process, Control Cutter ensures collaboration with suppliers that meet our quality requirements and contribute to the overall excellence of our products and services.
Document Description
The Supplier Quality Requirements (SQR) document formally defines Control Cutter’s requirements and expectations for external suppliers. It applies to all companies supplying products and/or services to Control Cutter.
1. General Requirements
Control Cutter mandates that suppliers adhere to the specified requirements when conducting business activities, including regulatory compliance.
1.1 Supplier Responsibility
Control Cutter requires all its suppliers to comply with the requirements outlined in this document, in accordance with any existing Supplier Agreements (SA) and Purchase Orders (PO). First-tier suppliers must ensure compliance at all levels of the supply chain. Control Cutter will continuously verify compliance through reviews, assessments, and audits. Suppliers must:
- Ensure all requirements are communicated within their company and to sub-tier suppliers and contractors.
- Immediately inform Control Cutter procurement of any changes or issues related to products and services.
- Proactively address all Control Cutter requirements, including changes in customer and regulatory requirements.
- Notify Control Cutter procurement in writing immediately upon becoming aware of any potential safety issues.
- Support Control Cutter in resolving any identified issues related to the supplier’s products and services.
1.2 Supplier Code of Conduct Principles
Suppliers must follow the Supplier Code of Conduct Principles (SCoC) to ensure business is conducted in accordance with internationally recognised standards, including human rights, diversity, equal opportunity, occupational health and safety, labour rights, and working conditions. Compliance with principles from the UN Global Compact, ILO Conventions, OECD Guidelines, and UN Conventions is required. Control Cutter will conduct regular assessments of suppliers through reviews, questionnaires, and audits.
1.3 Conflict Minerals and Product Content
Suppliers must comply with European Union Conflict Minerals Regulation (EU) 2017/821 and avoid delivering materials or components containing substances that do not comply with laws regarding conflict minerals. Compliance with REACh and RoHS regulations is also mandatory. Control Cutter expects suppliers to collaborate in identifying materials of concern and provide necessary information.
1.4 Health, Safety and Environment
Suppliers must ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and those affected by their activities. Control Cutter encourages best practices sharing and collaborative efforts to improve HS&E performance throughout the supply chain.
1.5 Sustainable Supply Chain
Suppliers should be committed to sustainability and corporate social responsibility improvements. Environmental improvement plans should be in place to reduce pollution and emissions. Strategic suppliers are expected to achieve best practices in evaluating and mitigating environmental impacts.
1.6 Quality Standards
Suppliers are required to have a quality management system according to ISO 9001 or equivalent, and compliance with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 is preferable.
1.7 Information Handling
Suppliers must protect all exchanged information in accordance with Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) or the Terms and Conditions (T&C) referenced to in a PO. Suitable controls must be in place to prevent unauthorized access or breaches.
1.8 Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Management
Suppliers must establish Business Continuity Plans (BCP) to ensure operational continuity during serious incidents and recover within a reasonable period. Control Cutter should be informed promptly of any risks affecting business continuity, changes in ownership, or significant incidents.
2.Additional Quality Management Requirements
Quality management requirements in accordance with ISO 9001, to improve the quality of the product or service delivered.
2.1 Infrastructure
Suppliers must have processes to ensure all necessary infrastructure is maintained to deliver products or services in conformance with Control Cutter requirements.
2.2 Control of Documented Information
Suppliers must comply with Control Cutter’s standard for configuration and revision control on all documented information. Records must be retrievable and amendments properly authorized.
2.3 Design and Development of Products and Services
If the product design is owned by the supplier, all design and development activities must be planned and controlled through an established process.
2.4 Control of Externally Provided Processes, Products, and Services
Suppliers must manage and monitor subcontractors to ensure compliance with ISO9001 requirements and maintain records of procurement and subcontracting activities.
2.5 Supply Chain Operations
Suppliers must establish planning and manufacturing processes to deliver products or services effectively, considering resource availability and process effectiveness.
2.6 Prevention of Counterfeit Parts
Suppliers must ensure only new and authentic materials are used and implement processes to prevent counterfeit parts from being included in products delivered to Control Cutter.
2.7 Product and Production Validation and Verification
Suppliers must verify that products are produced, tested, and inspected according to Control Cutter specifications.
2.8 Identification and Traceability
Suppliers must be able to identify and recall defective products and services accurately.
2.9 Packaging Requirements
Suppliers must ensure proper packaging to protect against damage, deterioration, and tampering during shipment, storage, and distribution.
2.10 Control of Non-Conforming Output
Suppliers must have processes to identify and control non-conforming products and services to prevent unintended use or delivery.
2.11 Non-Conformity and Corrective Actions
In case of non-conformity, suppliers must immediately inform Control Cutter, implement containment actions, perform root cause analysis, and put corrective action plans in place approved by Control Cutter.