TOPS-QARTI: 1st Article

TOPS-QARTI: 1st Article

REV:06/24/09

SCOPE: This procedure covers Quality Planning and First Article Inspections of representative parts from the first run of a new product or when there is a significant process change requiring a new First Article Inspection (FAI).

Engineering

Upon receiving a customer purchase order for a new product, the Customer Service Representative (CSR) e-mails the Engineering Manager with the copy of the PO, quoting documents, specifications, and other items of note. The CSR creates first article part number in the Item Master per TOP-ORDER.

Engineer (assigned to the customer) begins the FAI process by determining the requirements for the FAI. Once determined, the known quality information is forwarded to the QA Manager. The QA Manager begins the process of creating the Quality Plan. The Quality Plan must be approved by the Engineer. The Engineer creates the FAI BOM, Router and Spec ID from the newly created first article part. These must be approved by the QA Manager.

Quality Planning

The QA Manager creates and maintains a Quality Plan that coordinates all quality related activities required to produce parts that satisfy the customer's requirements. The Quality Plan, and any subsequent changes, are reviewed and approved by the VP - Quality and Engineering prior to becoming effective. When the plan is approved, the QA Manager requests, in writing, for the transfer of all pertinent information to the Standard Routers, Standard BOM, the Spec ID, Powerway, and other documents as he/she deems appropriate, to communicate the Quality Plan to anyone, typically the QC Supervisor and Production Supervisor, involved in the quality completion of the production process.

Anyone becoming aware of the need to add or modify a Quality Plan is to notify the QA Manager.

First Article Inspection

When a First Article Inspection is required the Quality Plan can specify the CMM Programmer/Operator’s or QC Inspector’s measuring equipment.TOP-MSURE. The CMM Programmer/Operator or QC Inspector's records the results of the inspection on the inspection record document as assigned by the Quality Plan.

For dimensional evaluation: The CMM Programmer/Operator or QC Inspector provides documentation of the inspection to the QC Supervisor to approve. The QC Supervisor reviews the inspection and sends the part and the documentation to the QA Manager initialing and dating approval or rejection.
When the QA Manager receives nonconforming first article(s), he/she reviews the information to verify the nonconformity, ensures that the process variables which caused the nonconformity has either been corrected or stopped, ensures that all nonconforming parts have been properly handled per TOP-NOCON.
When the QA Manager receives conforming First Article(s), the Quality Plan is reviewed for completeness and the QA step is scanned off signaling for shipments to commence. Shipping Supervisor or Leadman must be notified as to the location of the parts.

First Article Inspection Buyoff

It is the responsibility of the QA Manager to arrange for source inspection, when required, and follow thru till First Article is approved and documented in the company files.

For information on a document or record, including definition, primary responsibility and retention, refer to the Document and Record Master List.

Documents are controlled only when viewed on-line in the original English -- printed copies or translations are not controlled documents.

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