Quality Clauses
Supplier Terms and Conditions – Quality Clauses
This document outlines the standard quality clauses and supplier requirements for all goods and services purchased by Metric Specialties.
GENERAL: As a supplier to Metric Specialties, your organization agrees to comply with the Supplier Terms and Conditions and Quality Clauses outlined in this document (“Agreement”). Acceptance of any Metric Specialties Purchase Order constitutes acceptance of this Agreement.
DEFINITIONS: “Buyer” refers to Metric Specialties. “Supplier” or “Seller” refers to the entity providing goods, materials, products, parts, or services. “Purchase Order” means any document or electronic communication conveying purchasing requirements from Buyer to Seller. These terms supersede any conflicting supplier terms.
Q01: Standard Terms and Conditions
A. Confidentiality: All technical, proprietary, and confidential information provided by Metric Specialties shall be protected and not disclosed or used without written authorization. These obligations survive contract completion or termination.
B. Right of Access: Metric Specialties, its customers, and regulatory authorities retain the right to access supplier and subcontractor facilities to review records, inspect processes, and witness testing. This requirement must be flowed down to subcontractors.
C. Nonconforming Product: Suppliers must notify Metric Specialties of any nonconforming conditions and receive written approval prior to shipment.
D. Change Notification: Suppliers shall notify Metric Specialties of changes to products, processes, suppliers, or manufacturing locations and obtain approval where required.
E. Flow-Down Requirements: All applicable purchase order and customer requirements must be flowed down throughout the supply chain.
G. Quantity and Shipment: Over-shipments, under-shipments, or partial deliveries are prohibited unless approved in writing.
H. Packaging: All products must be packaged, marked, and shipped per Metric Specialties instructions or industry best practices when instructions are not specified.
I. Quality Management System: Suppliers must maintain a quality system compliant with the latest revisions of AS9100, AS9120, or ISO 9001, as applicable.
J. Warranty: All goods and services shall conform to specifications, drawings, and regulatory requirements and be free from defects.
K. Indemnification: Supplier agrees to indemnify Metric Specialties against all claims, damages, costs, and liabilities arising from supplied goods or services.
L. Required Quality Clauses: Q01, Q02, Q03, Q06.1, Q06.2, Q06.7, Q08, Q13, Q14, Q16 unless otherwise stated on the purchase order.
Q02: Change Control
No design, material, process, or supplier changes may be implemented without written approval from Metric Specialties.
Q03: Calibration Requirements
Calibration systems must comply with ISO 17025, ISO 10012-1, or ANSI Z540-1 and be traceable to NIST standards.
Q04: Priority Rating
Orders may be rated for national defense and subject to DPAS requirements.
Q05: Specialty Metals
All specialty metals must originate from the United States or DFARS-approved qualifying countries per DFARS 252.225-7014.
Q06: Certifications
Q06.1 Certificate of Conformance
Required with each shipment and must include part number, revision, quantity, specifications, manufacturer, lot traceability, and authorized signature.
Q06.2 Manufacturer Certificate of Conformance
Required where applicable and must include full traceability.
Q06.3 Raw Material Certifications / Chemical and Physical Test Reports
Chemical and physical test reports must accompany each shipment and be traceable to heat or lot numbers.
Q06.4 Special Processing Certifications
Processing certifications must confirm compliance with drawing and specification requirements. Parts may be rejected without correct documentation.
Q06.5 First Article Inspection Report
A First Article Inspection Report in accordance with AS9102 (including ballooned drawings and required certifications) is required with delivery.
Q06.6 NADCAP Approved Suppliers
Only NADCAP-approved suppliers shall be used for heat treat, plating, and NDT processes where applicable. NDT personnel must be certified in accordance with NAS410.
Q06.7 Country of Origin
Country of origin for supplied goods must be listed on the supplier’s Certificate of Conformance.
Q07: Inspection Records
Each shipment must include actual quantitative inspection records with traceability to the applicable part number, material, or service.
Q08: Counterfeit Parts Prevention
Suppliers shall ensure all materials and parts are genuine, sourced from approved manufacturers, and free from counterfeit risk.
Q09: Source Inspection
Q09-1 Government Source Inspection
When required, government source inspection shall be performed at the supplier’s facility prior to shipment. A minimum of 48 hours’ notice to Metric Specialties is required when this clause is invoked. Evidence of inspection must accompany the shipment.
Q09-2 Customer Source Inspection
Items or services may be subject to source inspection by Metric Specialties or its customer prior to shipment. The supplier shall provide facilities and equipment required for inspection at no cost to Metric Specialties and provide at least three working days’ notice when product is available for inspection.
Q10: Record Retention
Suppliers shall retain all records for a minimum of 10 years, including production, processing, calibration, inspection, and test records, as applicable.
Q11: Employee Contribution & Ethical Behavior
Suppliers shall ensure employee awareness of their contribution to product conformity, product safety, and the importance of ethical behavior.
Q12: Supplier Performance
Suppliers must meet Metric Specialties performance requirements. Failure to meet requirements may result in a corrective action request (SCAR) and/or removal from the approved supplier list.
Q13: Foreign Object Debris/Damage (FOD)
Suppliers shall ensure foreign object debris/damage is removed prior to shipment where applicable and flow down this requirement to sub-tier suppliers.
Q14: Conflict Minerals
Materials supplied must comply with Dodd-Frank Act Section 1502 requirements.
Q15: Single Lot Control
Goods supplied must be produced and shipped from a single manufacturing and material lot.
Q16: Limited Shelf Life Product
Limited shelf life products must be delivered with at least 85% usable shelf life remaining. Certifications must include cure date and shelf life limitations.
Q17: Subcontractor Flow Down
If any portion of the purchase order is subcontracted, the supplier must flow down all Metric Specialties requirements, including customer requirements, to the subcontractor.