Quality Clauses
- Quality Management System
The Supplier shall maintain a quality management system that complies with the current ISO 9001 standard at a minimum. Conformance to AS9100 standards is highly preferred. - Quality and Inspection Standards
Suppliers must operate a quality/inspection system aligned with ISO 9001 requirements. This includes documented Receiving, In-Process, and Final Inspections, as well as test records that are provided to International Rectifier (IR) upon request or at shipment completion. First Article Inspections, as per AS9102 standards, may also be required. - Calibration System
The Supplier’s calibration system must meet ANSI-Z540 or an equivalent standard. It should ensure timely calibration and recall of measurement and testing equipment used for product acceptance, with records maintained for review. - Certificates of Conformance
- A Certificate of Conformance (C of C) and/or Certificate of Analysis (C of A) must accompany each shipment. These certificates should attest to material compliance, signed by an authorized representative, and include key details such as manufacturer name, IR part number, revision level, lot details, and country of origin.
- Chemical and/or physical test reports may be required for certain specifications as outlined in purchase orders or drawings.
- Special Processes
Processes whose outputs cannot be verified post-completion without destructive testing are classified as special processes. Suppliers must:- Validate and control such processes to ensure consistent results.
- Establish necessary process instructions, criteria for approval, monitoring methods, and maintenance schedules.
- Communicate and obtain IR approval for subcontracted special processes.
- Right of Entry
With prior notice, IR, its customers, and regulatory bodies reserve the right to access Supplier premises at any level of the supply chain to verify compliance with contract requirements. - Test Data Certification
Certifications must be traceable to the testing or inspection organization, demonstrating conformance to specifications and purchase orders. - Contract Review
Suppliers must review and resolve any discrepancies in purchase orders, specifications, or referenced documents before proceeding. Compliance with all documentation is required for product acceptance. - Flow-Down Requirements
The Supplier is responsible for ensuring all applicable purchase order requirements are communicated to and met by sub-tier suppliers. - Personnel Qualification
All personnel involved in processes affecting product quality must be appropriately trained and qualified. - Change Approval
Products supplied under IR source control drawings must match previously approved specifications. Any changes must be communicated using a Product Change Notification (PCN) and approved by IR. - Component Substitution
No substitutions or use of alternate components are allowed without prior approval from IR Quality and Purchasing Departments. - Obsolescence Notification
Suppliers must inform IR of material or component obsolescence plans to allow for last-time-buy options or other mitigations. - Prohibited Materials
Use of pure tin, cadmium, or zinc is prohibited unless otherwise specified. Tin/lead finishes must contain at least 4% lead by weight. - Age-Sensitive Materials
Deliverables with limited shelf life must have at least 75% of their shelf life remaining and include batch numbers, manufacturing/expiration dates, and handling instructions. - Traceability
Suppliers must maintain traceability of all items, including supply chain intermediaries, manufacturing origins, and batch identifiers (e.g., date or lot codes). - Conflict Minerals
Products supplied must be free of minerals sourced from conflict regions as defined under relevant regulations. Suppliers may be required to provide evidence supporting compliance. - Corrective Actions
Suppliers must respond promptly to Corrective Action Requests (CARs), preferably using an 8D problem-solving format. Failure to address issues may result in disqualification. - Nonconforming Material
Suppliers must segregate and document nonconforming products for review and obtain IR approval for any deviations. - Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Prevention
A FOD prevention program must be in place, addressing contamination control, clean workspace practices, and tool accountability to protect product integrity. - Source Inspection
For purchases requiring IR source inspection, suppliers must coordinate with IR upon product completion and provide all necessary tools, drawings, and personnel to verify compliance. - Record Retention
Quality records must be retained for at least 12 years unless otherwise specified. This requirement also applies to subcontracted records. - Element Evaluation
When specified, products must comply with MIL-PRF-38534 element evaluation requirements unless explicitly exempted. Test data and certifications must accompany shipments. - Rework Restrictions
Rework requires prior IR approval. Reworked items must be qualified to ensure they meet all required specifications without compromising reliability. - Counterfeit Prevention
Suppliers may only source products directly from manufacturers or authorized distributors. Products must be verified as new, unused, and authentic. - Disaster Recovery
Suppliers are encouraged to maintain disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity and minimize disruptions.