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Original Date: 05/08/1995
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Information : Preferred Supplier Certification Process
McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA) maintains a supplier certification process to establish long-term partnerships with suppliers. These relationships, in turn, enable MDA to satisfy its customers with top quality, technically excellent, affordable products that are delivered on time. Currently, 494 suppliers have been certified at one of three levels. This certification process has focused on the complete business process, accelerated product and process improvements, and strengthened teamwork between MDA and its suppliers. Currently 494 suppliers have been certified at either the Bronze (385), Silver (103), or Gold (6) levels.
There are three major elements to the supplier certification process including assessment of supplier business processes, SPC, and supplier performance management (Table 2-2 and Table 2-3). A team assessment is conducted of a supplier undergoing certification. The assessment process looks at management, quality, technology, cost, delivery, and customer support criteria. The statistical process control component of certification requires a documented SPC implementation at the Bronze level; critical processes and control characteristics identified at the Silver level (as well as a manufacturing process capability Cpk of > 1.33 and a plan to reduce variation in nonconforming processes); and improved process capabilities, utilization of SPC, and a philosophy of continuous improvement at the Gold level. The Supplier Performance Evaluation and Rating System (SPEARS) process is used to measure quality in terms of acceptance rate and cost of quality, rate of on-time delivery, and supplier responsiveness.
MDA has not only implemented the certification process with its suppliers, it has implemented it within its own manufacturing centers as well. It has developed a comprehensive supplier certification manual that is provided to all candidate suppliers as a basis for initial self-assessments. Four of five internal production centers undergoing certification have reached the Bronze level.
Table 2-2. Preferred Supplier Certification Process (SPC Requirements)
Table 2-3. MDA Guidelines Summary of Standards for Certification
For more information see the
Point of Contact for this survey.
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