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Supplier Quality Terms & Conditions

These Quality Terms apply to all purchase orders, subcontracts, and related agreements issued by BB&H Tool Company to its suppliers for any externally provided process, product, material, assembly, special process, or service.

 

1. Scope and precedence

Supplier shall comply with all requirements stated in the Order, including drawings, specifications, digital product definitions, statements of work, process requirements, work instructions, quality clauses, flowed-down customer requirements, and all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. Where requirements differ, Supplier shall comply with the most stringent applicable requirement unless otherwise authorized in writing by Buyer.

2. Responsibility for conformity

Supplier is fully responsible for conformity of all work furnished under the Order, whether performed by Supplier or by Supplier's direct or sub-tier sources. Use of a customer-designated, customer-approved, or Buyer-approved source does not relieve Supplier of responsibility for conformity, traceability, delivery, or required records.

3. Sub-tier control and flow-down

Supplier shall apply appropriate controls to its direct and sub-tier providers to ensure all applicable requirements are met. Supplier shall flow down to all levels of its supply chain all requirements necessary to assure conformity, including Buyer requirements, customer requirements, technical requirements, regulatory requirements, product safety requirements, and any requirements relating to records, access, notification, or approval.

4. Approved sources

When the Order requires use of a customer-designated, customer-approved, or Buyer-approved source, Supplier shall use only that source for the applicable scope. Supplier shall not subcontract, transfer, or outsource work affecting conformity without Buyer approval where such approval is required by the Order or flowed-down requirements.

5. Quality management system

Supplier shall maintain a quality management system appropriate to the scope and complexity of the work performed. When required by the Order, Supplier shall maintain certification or compliance to [AS9100 / ISO 9001 / Buyer-specific QMS requirement]. Supplier shall notify Buyer within 30 business days of any change in certification, approval status, approval scope, major audit finding, regulatory action, or special-process approval that could affect performance under the Order.

6. Risk management

Supplier shall identify and manage risks associated with the products, services, and processes provided under the Order, including risks tied to sub-tier sourcing, process changes, location changes, capacity, schedule, raw materials, special processes, counterfeit parts, critical items, and key characteristics. Supplier shall implement controls proportionate to the effect such risks could have on conformity, safety, reliability, and delivery.

7. Technical and process control

Supplier shall comply with all technical and process requirements provided or referenced by Buyer, including specifications, drawings, acceptance criteria, inspection instructions, test requirements, process approvals, release requirements, and production process verification requirements. Supplier shall not make unauthorized substitutions or deviations in material, design, process, software, equipment, tooling, source, or method.

8. Special requirements, critical items, and key characteristics

Where Buyer identifies special requirements, critical items, or key characteristics, Supplier shall apply the specified controls and maintain objective evidence that such controls were implemented and effective. Supplier shall flow down these requirements to applicable sub-tier providers.

9. Personnel competence and awareness

Supplier shall ensure that personnel performing work affecting conformity are competent on the basis of education, training, qualification, and/or experience. Supplier shall ensure such personnel are aware of:

  • their role in achieving product or service conformity,

  • their role in product safety, and

  • the importance of ethical behavior.

10. Verification, inspection, and audit rights

Buyer, Buyer's customer, and applicable regulatory authorities may enter Supplier's facilities and relevant sub-tier facilities, inspect applicable work areas, and review records related to the Order for purposes of audit, inspection, source inspection, validation, verification, or investigation. Supplier shall provide reasonable access, assistance, and facilities to support such activities. Any such review does not relieve Supplier of responsibility for conformity.

11. Objective evidence and records

Supplier shall maintain and furnish, upon request, objective evidence of conformity, which may include certificates of conformity, inspection results, test reports, process-control records, production process verification records, first article records, calibration records, material certifications, traceability records, nonconformance records, corrective action records, and change-control records. Supplier shall control records generated by Supplier or its sub-tier sources and shall retain them for at least 2 years after final delivery, or longer when required by contract, customer, or law. Record disposition shall comply with Buyer requirements.

12. Nonconforming product, process, or service

Supplier shall immediately notify Buyer of any nonconforming process, product, or service that may affect conformity, traceability, safety, reliability, or contractual compliance, whether identified before or after delivery. Supplier shall not ship or further process known nonconforming product without prior written authorization from Buyer. Supplier shall contain the issue, determine cause, implement corrective action, and provide documented results when requested.

13. Change notification and approval

Supplier shall notify Buyer in writing and obtain Buyer approval before implementing any change that may affect fit, form, function, performance, reliability, safety, regulatory compliance, traceability, or approved status, including changes in:

  • design, where Supplier has design responsibility,

  • material,

  • special process source,

  • manufacturing process or method,

  • inspection or test method,

  • software used to control or verify production,

  • tooling or major equipment affecting conformity,

  • manufacturing location,

  • ownership or organizational control affecting the work, or

  • direct or sub-tier source for the ordered item.

14. Delegated verification

Supplier shall not perform delegated verification, self-release, source delegation, or delegated inspection authority unless expressly authorized in writing by Buyer. When such authority is granted, Supplier shall comply with all delegation conditions, maintain the required records, and permit Buyer to monitor the delegated activity. Buyer may suspend or revoke such authority at any time.

15. Test reports and material certifications

When Supplier provides test reports, inspection data, certificates, or similar objective evidence to demonstrate conformity, Supplier warrants that such data are complete, accurate, authentic, and traceable to the applicable product, batch, lot, heat, or process. Buyer reserves the right to independently review, verify, inspect, or test such data and the associated product. For raw material or other items identified by Buyer as significant risk or critical, Supplier shall support validation of reported results as requested.

16. Release pending completion of verification

Supplier shall not release product for shipment or use before completion of required verification unless Buyer has provided written authorization. Any product released under such authorization shall be clearly identified and recorded in a manner that allows containment, recall, and replacement if later verification shows nonconformance.

17. Counterfeit parts prevention

Supplier shall establish and maintain controls to prevent the use or delivery of counterfeit or suspect counterfeit parts, materials, and components. Supplier shall procure such items only from original manufacturers, authorized distributors, or other sources approved by Buyer. Supplier shall maintain traceability to the original or authorized source where applicable, evaluate authenticity, quarantine suspect counterfeit product, and immediately notify Buyer of any suspect or confirmed counterfeit condition.

18. Design and development control

Where Supplier has design or development responsibility, Supplier shall control such activity in accordance with Order requirements, including design review, verification, validation, approval of outputs, configuration control, and formal control of design changes. Supplier shall notify Buyer before implementing design changes that affect Buyer requirements whenever Buyer approval is required.

19. Statistical techniques, samples, and process verification

Where statistical product acceptance, sampling, or capability methods are used, Supplier shall use recognized statistical principles and comply with Buyer instructions regarding acceptance. Supplier shall provide test specimens, first articles, sample parts, or qualification units when requested for design approval, verification, investigation, or audit. Supplier shall support production process verification and repeat such verification when significant changes occur.

20. Corrective action and performance monitoring

Supplier shall monitor its quality and delivery performance. Upon request, Supplier shall submit timely corrective action responses for quality escapes, late delivery, audit findings, process failures, or customer complaints. Buyer may require enhanced controls, including additional inspection, periodic testing, source surveillance, containment, or recovery planning, based on supplier performance or risk.

21. Communication

Supplier shall designate an authorized representative for quality matters and shall promptly communicate with Buyer regarding nonconformities, changes, certification issues, risks to delivery or conformity, requests for deviation, and requests for approval under these Quality Terms.

22. Remedies for noncompliance

Failure to comply with these Quality Terms may result in rejection of product, withholding of acceptance, required corrective action, removal of delegated authority, suspension of shipments, chargeback of reasonable costs caused by nonconformance, disapproval for the applicable scope of work, or termination of the Order, in addition to any other rights available under the governing agreement or applicable law.

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