AS9100 Clause 8.4.3 – Information For External Providers

Clause 8.4.3 of AS9100D is titled “Information for External Providers” and involves ensuring that external providers (such as suppliers and sub-contractors) are provided with necessary information to meet requirements.

The standard states that the organization must ensure the adequacy of requirements prior to their communication to the external provider. Information for external providers must include:

1. The processes, products, or services to be provided including the identification of relevant technical data (e.g., specifications, drawings, process requirements, work instructions).
2. The approval of products and services, methods, processes, and equipment, and the release of products and services.
3. Competence, including any required qualification of persons.
4. The external providers’ interactions with the organization.
5. Control and monitoring of the external providers’ performance to be applied by the organization.
6. Verification or validation activities that the organization, or its customer, intends to perform at the external providers’ premises.
7. Design and development control, special requirements, critical items, or key characteristics.
8. Test, inspection, and verification (including production process verification).
9. The use of statistical techniques for product acceptance and related instructions for acceptance by the organization.
10. Requirements for the external provider to:

a. Implement a quality management system.

b. Use customer-designated or approved external providers, including process sources (e.g., special processes).

c. Notify the organization of nonconforming processes, products, or services and obtain approval for their disposition.

d. Prevent the use of counterfeit parts.

e. Notify the organization of changes to processes, products, or services, including changes of their external providers or location of manufacture, and obtain the organization’s approval.

f. Flow down to external providers applicable requirements including customer requirements.

g. Provide test specimens for design approval, inspection/verification, investigation, or auditing.

h. Retain documented information, including retention periods and disposition requirements.