I can't remember if I thanked you for responding, and sorry to bother you again, but we are taking your advice! (THANKS!) Can I ask one more question? What would you consider monitoring as "critical manufacturing parameters"? Jack On 2/22/08, Kathy Kuhlow <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > I have done this and used the following steps: > > 1) QA Survey and audit confirming quality system is evident and effective. > Also include process control of critical manufacturing parameters. > 2) PPAP run including all critical to function dimensions and part to > documentation/procurement agreement. > 3) Pre-acceptance run used to qualify that the PCB will function just like > or better than the previous part does. I typically would run 20-50 boards > through the entire process to confirm this keeping detailed records of > each > process step. > 4) Forward to customer if needed for any additional qualification testing > and approvals. > > I then would maintain one of the PCB's as a historical sample with the > reports that support the acceptance/rejection of the new supplier. > > Sounds painful and you can cut corners if you choose to but to me I found > that I was asked to look at new vendors for a few main reasons: > > 1) purchasing got a quote with a great deal. To stop the constant > switching > and maintain better suppliers the process to change shouldn't be a simple > cake walk or you may find yourself constantly jumping depending on the new > suppliers delivering lower costs. > 2) to make the initial decision have more weight and to provide a > motivation > to be better at original sourcing and not just run around for cost > savings. > > Kat > > -----Original Message----- > From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jack Olson > Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 9:00 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [TN] FAB Vendor Verification? Validation? > > FAB: Vendor Verification? Validation? > > It seems like I have leaned on Technet too often lately, > and I hope I'm not wearing out my welcome.... > > ...but I am having to address this question: > "If you switch bare board manufacturers, what should you > do to verify that the new boards are just as good or better > than the old ones were?" > > I can say a lot about how to CHOOSE a bare board vendor > and how to SPECIFY minimum levels of acceptability, but > from a technical point of view, is there more that should be > done than typical visual inspection, dimensional checks and > cross sections of the boards themselves? > > Do any of you periodically monitor your bare board vendor > by asking for process control reports and stuff like that? > > Have any of you ever been asked to re-validate a product > (reliability testing) on products just for changing the bare > board vendor? > > Maybe I have just had a fortunate career by always getting > good boards, but lately I've been stung a few times in this > brave new world. > > have a good day, > Jack > > > --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------