| BQMS Addendum 1 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |
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| Is AQS going away? |
| No. D6-82479 Addendum 1 will point to AS9103 for Variation Management of Key Characteristics and to AS9100 for Continual Improvement. |
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| How will Addendum 1 be called out? |
It will be called out in supplier contracts and/or purchase orders. In the absence of contractual language, a supplier may still follow Addendum 1 voluntarily. Addendum 1 is considered a business requirement, not a quality system requirement. |
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| Under what circumstances will Addendum 1 be called out contractually? |
- When there are Boeing-identified key characteristics.
- When procurement desires that the supplier engage in a continuous improvement strategy.
- When the supplier's Boeing program requires it.
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| Will Addendum 1 drive quality system requirements? |
| Yes, if Addendum 1 procedures are used for product acceptance. Not necessarily, if the supplier is engaged in a supplier-defined continuous improvement and variation reduction strategy (e.g., Six Sigma). In this situation, the continuous improvement system might be documented in general business procedures. |
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| Will suppliers have to be AQS CI/Addendum 1 approved? |
| No. Addendum 1 is considered a capability instead of a "quality system" approval. However, suppliers will be evaluated periodically if they have contracts or P.O.s with Addendum 1 called out or if they are part of the Preferred Supplier Certification (PSC) Program. Evaluated suppliers will be expected to be compliant to Addendum 1 requirements. |
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| What will the Addendum 1 evaluation consist of? |
| It will be a check by Boeing to see whether and how well Addendum 1 requirements are being met. The AQS Continuous Improvement (AQS CI) Evaluation Matrix will be used for the evaluation. |
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| How are the results of an Addendum 1 evaluation documented? |
| The evaluation will result in a list of supplier strengths and opportunities for improvement. The supplier is expected to develop a Continuous Improvement Plan that addresses the opportunities. This plan will be provided to the Boeing representative who will coordinate them with procurement. |
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| What if the supplier does not meet the minimum Addendum 1 requirements when they are contractually obligated to do so? |
| In order of increasing severity: the Boeing representative could write a Supplier Evaluation Report (SER) requiring corrective action within 30 days; Addendum 1 could be removed from supplier contracts, and the supplier would be ineligible to bid on or perform work for which Addendum 1 is required; the supplier could be put on probation; the supplier could be withdrawn. |
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| Should suppliers document their Addendum 1 procedures in their quality manual? |
| Not necessarily. The procedures must be documented, but need not be in the quality manual unless the procedures are used for product acceptance. |
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| Who will perform the Addendum 1 evaluation? |
- Suppliers are expected to perform a self assessment using the AQS CI Evaluation Matrix.
- Boeing evaluation of compliance to Addendum 1 requirements will be performed by field representatives or by Boeing Continuous Improvement System Specialists (CISS)
- PSC evaluations at the Silver or Gold level will be performed by Boeing CISSs only.
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| What sort of help and assistance is available to suppliers in their efforts to transition to Addendum 1? |
| While there is no specific training class or curriculum for suppliers, there are reference materials available. These include the AQS CI Guidelines Book and AQS CI Evaluation Matrix. Suppliers should make full use of these tools during the transition. Suppliers should always contact their primary Boeing representative for guidance and interpretation of requirements. Additionally, a CISS may also be available for coaching/familiarization and guidance on Addendum 1. Contact your primary rep. for CISS availability. |
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| What is the relationship between Addendum 1 compliance and the level of AQS CI for PSC suppliers (Bronze, Silver, Gold)? |
| "Fully compliant" is equivalent to meeting the Bronze level for the AQS CI portion of PSC. Silver and Gold indicate implementation well beyond Addendum 1 requirements. The relationship is further explained in the introduction to the AQS CI Evaluation Tool. |
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| What is the typical agenda for an Addendum 1 evaluation? |
| At least 1 month prior to the evaluation: Perform self evaluation. Day 1 - Program review of supplier CI system, performance measures, targets, goals, management reviews, projects, etc. Day 2 - Review of supplier results, trends, plans and current compliance Days 3 and beyond (if held) - Coaching and consultation by Boeing rep and/or AQS specialist. |
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| Can a supplier request PSC evaluation? |
| Yes, through the Procurement Administrator or the Boeing Program manager. These people will decide whether to include the supplier in the PSC Program. |
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| Will Addendum 1 compliance or a desirable PSC level result in more Boeing business? |
| We want the answer to be yes, and are working on ways to help it happen. |
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