Good points also Mark, I'll respond to your points in order. Question 1 Of course any end user that would want to audit a PCB shop with more than one facility would need to take that into account. But as a PCB manufacturer don't you audit the facilities where your cores and pre-preg are made? Answer: Yes I have audited my suppliers, and that's my main point. My supplier MUST be chosen by me because only I know exactly what I expect from them and their products. I would never take a third party's opinion even if they were highly qualified. Comment and Question 2 And the last thing I'd like to comment on is toward your last item, what third party would be qualified to audit your shop. Well, certainly end users who have never manufactured PCB's are not fully qualified. But a group of PCB process engineers, quality engineers and manufacturing professionals would probably be. People who have spent a minimum of 15 years (each) in the business of manufacturing PCB's. Maybe even people who have, at one time or another, worked at your shop. Answer: One thing this industry doesn't need is more consultants. We need manufactureres to stay on the manufacturing side and make their companies experts along with themselves (OK off the soapbox). Let me finish this response with a question to you; what other industry requires consultants to choose their suppliers? If a specific company doesn't have the skill to pick the suppliers, all they have to do is pool the suppliers who service their competition. Users groups are active tools for information and promote the superior suppliers. Just one persons opinion, Joe Dickson ############################################################## TechNet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ############################################################## To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TECHNET <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TECHNET ############################################################## Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information. If you need assistance - contact Gayatri Sardeshpande at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5365 ##############################################################