Purchase order terms and conditions

Why these terms come with every order

AST Manufacturing runs an ISO 9001 certified quality system, and our customers hold us to it. Consequently, the supplier quality requirements below are how that system flows down to every vendor who supplies material, special processing, calibration, or services on an AST purchase order. Read them once, keep a copy on file, and then the rest of the relationship is simple.

General

1. Our organization reserves the right of final approval of product, procedures, processes and equipment.
2. All special processes required by this PO must be performed by qualified personnel.
3. Our organization reserves the right to review and approve the Vendors Quality Management System.

Standard supplier quality requirements

Standard QMS requirements include:

1. Vendors providing special processing must maintain a system for validating processes.
2. Customer Directed sources must operate in accordance with approved specifications and standards as dictated and controlled by the customer in question.
3. Suppliers initially approved for use via Certification (ISO9001, AS9100, ISO17025, AS9120, etc.) must notify our organization of any changes to that certification.
4. The Vendor shall maintain the proper identification and revision status of specifications, drawings, process requirements, inspection/verification instructions and other relevant technical data. Unless noted otherwise on the face of this order, the latest revision level is to be used.
5. Our organization reserves the right to approve or specify any designs, tests, inspection plans, verifications, use of statistical techniques for product acceptance, and any applicable critical items including key characteristics.
6. Our organization reserves the right to designate requirements for test specimens for design approval, inspection/verification, investigation or auditing.
7. The Vendor is required to:
   • Implement and maintain a suitable Quality Management System that ensures delivery of conforming product.
   • Notify our organization of nonconforming product.
   • Obtain our organization approval for nonconforming product disposition.
   • Prevent use of counterfeit parts.
   • Notify our organization of changes in product and/or process, changes of vendors, and changes of manufacturing facility locations.
   • Flow down to external providers all applicable requirements, including customer requirements.
   • Ensure their personnel are aware of the contribution to product conformity, product safety, and the importance of ethical behavior.
8. The Vendor is required to retain all Records associated with the Purchase Order for a period of no less than 7 years, unless otherwise specified.

---

Right of access

Right of access by our organization, our customer and regulatory authorities to the applicable areas of all facilities, at any level of the supply chain, involved in the order and to all applicable records.

Termination

Purchaser may terminate Vendor Purchase Order(s) in whole or in part without liability. Seller agrees to indemnify and save Purchaser harmless from any loss, penalty, damages, costs, or expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, resulting from Seller’s refusal or failure to comply with any provisions of this Order. If this Order is terminated in whole or in part by Purchaser, Seller shall be compensated proportionately to the extent that items have been accepted by Purchaser prior to the effective date of termination less any deductions or set-off. Purchaser shall have no further liability whatsoever.

Calibration services

All vendors providing Calibration Services must:

1. Maintain Certification to ISO17025, ISO10012-1, ANSI Z540-1 (or equivalent) or be otherwise approved by our organization.
2. Provide reporting of “As Found” and “As Left” status if the item is found to be out of tolerance.
3. Identify Calibration Standards used.
4. Utilize Calibration Standards traceable to NIST.