We are committed to the belief that our suppliers play a critical role in the total satisfaction of our customers. Our procurement needs range from technologically advanced materials and components to typical industrial products. To meet these needs, we seek and maintain suppliers that share in our ideals of total quality as well as continuous improvement on part and service quality, delivery performance, and total cost.
Our procurement activity is conducted through a competitive process. A reasonable effort is made to ensure that quotations are received on a competitive basis and that fair evaluations are made. This results in our awarding the order to the responsive bidder capable of meeting schedule and quality requirements at the lowest cost. Our procurement methods follow the dictates of ISO9001-2000 and AS9100.
The First Step
Make initial contact by writing to the Supply Management group. The information will be routed to the appropriate commodity leader. Outline the nature of your business and the products or services you could provide. You can also include any available brochures and request an appointment to provide more detail and to explore our needs. Please note that commodity leaders meet with suppliers by appointment only.
What You Should Provide
Please provide brochures, catalogs, equipment listings, names of some of your principal customers - anything that will give the commodity leader an understanding of your products and service. Explain what you are doing for others and what you can do for us. Should Avtech choose to develop a business relationship, you will be asked to fill out a Quality Questionnaire and return it within a few days.
Do We Need It?
We may not have a current requirement that matches your capabilities. We may not know when we will receive such a requirement. Have patience with us. When the need for your product or service arises, you will be considered.
Quotations
When you are given an opportunity to quote, you may receive a formal request for quotation (RFQ), a handwritten note with or without a drawing, or only a telephoned request.
Bidding
When you reply to the commodity leader, be sure that your quote is accurate and that your proposal is submitted on time. Commodity leaders consider price, delivery, quality, reliability, maintainability, warranties, management capability, and importantly, past quality performance - not price alone, but total acquisition cost.
Quality System Approval
Quality system approval is required of manufacturers, distributors, and special processors who provide product or services to Avtech. Approval may be granted based on a mail-in Quality Questionnaire or an on-site survey conducted by Avtech's quality engineering organization. Custom part suppliers are typically re-qualified every two years. Quality criteria details are described in our Standards for Supplier Excellence chart.
Delivery
Prompt reliable delivery is vital to the successful accomplishment of our programs, which are usually burdened with limited lead times. Your delivery performance is scored with each shipment and is reviewed monthly by the commodity leader. You will get a copy of that performance review. To see how to read your performance report and gain hints on how to improve your performance please click here. Unacceptable delivery performance can result in elimination from Avtech's list of qualified suppliers.
The Contract
If you are the successful bidder, the commodity leader will notify you and issue a purchase order, which may be a verbal, unconfirmed purchase order for low value orders, a hard copy purchase order or a formal, lengthy contract. The commodity leader will advise you when and how to ship, and will caution you against shipping early or late. The purchase order number must appear on all documents such as the shipper or packing sheet, invoice, etc. Shipments cannot be received and paid for if they cannot be identified. Furthermore, the supplier shall notify Avtech, using a Notification of Change form, of any change to products or processes that affect the form, fit or function of any supplied part(s), per our quality assurance specification 8801 QS. Supplemental quality requirements apply to electronic components supplied by non franchised distributors, as defined in 0701QS. The requirements specified in 0702QS apply to plastic injection molded components.
Shipment
Avtech needs to receive the items ordered within the specified early/late delivery window printed on the purchase order in an undamaged condition. Be sure your packaging is adequate and conforms to our instructions. Include or separately forward to the commodity leader if so instructed, any certifications, first article acceptance reports, etc., required by the purchase order. Parts received before or after the specified delivery window will be reflected as a delivery "miss" on the delivery performance rating.
Receipt and Inspection
Upon receipt of the material, the shipment will be inspected to ensure that it complies with the order and specification, per our standard terms and conditions, 8801TC. Suppliers who establish a track record of at least 98% quality performance over a minimum threshold of deliveries will qualify for Dock To Stock status.
Rejections
Should the shipment not be as ordered, it will be returned to the supplier for replacement at the supplier's expense, and the supplier's quality record will be noted. If an RMA is needed to return the material to your company, Avtech requires that the RMA number be provided within three business days of notification. A rejection may initiate a request for Formal Corrective Action. An unacceptable quality level can result in elimination from new program participation.
Payment
When your material has been delivered to the commodity leader and accepted, your invoice will be paid per the terms of your purchase order as stated in our standard terms and conditions, 8801TC. Be sure you send your invoices to the Accounts Payable Department, which receives and pays suppliers' invoices. If a problem or misunderstanding arises about your payment, contact the commodity leader for resolution to the problem.
Supplier Performance Review
Product material receipts are measured for quality and schedule performance. In most cases, Avtech will provide your company with monthly performance feedback, to drive continued improvement and strengthen relationships. As with specific rejections, if a negative trend in your quality and/or delivery performance occurs, the commodity leader will ask for Formal Corrective Action.
Value Added Services and Electronic Commerce
Avtech prefers doing business with suppliers whose tools and systems are compatible with ours. The commodity leader will provide you with data on our bar coding standards for your shipments. Avtech can provide, as applicable, MRP data in ASCII text format which extends component demand visibility for a rolling one year period. Avtech also uses EDI to replenish low cost items into our inventory.
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