SECTION 3.7 - CONTROL OF PASS-THROUGH CHARACTERISTICS revision 1

 

PURPOSE:

To assure the quality of "pass-through" characteristics supplied to NSK Steering Systems America, Inc.

SCOPE:

Applies to all suppliers of Level 1 commodities.

EXPLANATION:

Pass-through characteristics are those characteristics produced by outside suppliers (i.e., Tier 1 or Tier 2 to NSK Steering Systems America, Inc.) which are transparent to the customer’s plant processes and controls. As such, quality defects in these characteristics risk being "passed through" to NSSA’s final customer(s).

An example of this is a threaded hole that is not used in assembly at NSSA. A quality defect in this characteristic would be at risk of being "passed through" to NSSA’s final customer(s).

 

SUPPLIER RESPONSIBILITIES:
    1. The supplier shall identify all pass-through characteristics on the PFMEA, Control Plan, and related work instructions. In the "class" column of the PFMEA and the "special characteristics class" column of the Control Plan, a "P" should be included to identify the pass-through nature of the characteristic. (This may be in addition to other special characteristics applied to the same characteristic, such as "S", "SR", or "F".)
    2. The conformance of all pass-through characteristics should be verified using mistake-proofing techniques at the supplier’s facility before shipment to NSSA. When mistake-proofing is not possible, the supplier must inform NSSA Supplier Quality Assurance for direction.
    3. Certification of pass-through characteristics must be submitted with inspection data (see "submission of inspection data" in section 3.1 of this manual).
    4. Suppliers (i.e., Tier 1 to NSSA) are responsible for the verification of pass-through characteristics produced by sub-suppliers (i.e., Tier 2 or lower to NSSA). In the example stated above, if a Tier 2 supplier produces the threaded hole, the Tier 1 supplier to NSSA is responsible to NSSA for verifying the characteristic.
    5. Suppliers (i.e., Tier 1 to NSSA) are responsible for the verification all characteristics on pass-through commodities or services produced complete by sub-suppliers (i.e., Tier 2 or lower to NSSA). This applies to product that NSSA’s direct supplier purchases from other sources (i.e., bearings and seals produced off-shore, etc.) and "passes-through" to NSSA.

 

 

 

 

OTHER:

Pass-through characteristics should be identified at or before the kick-off of the Level 1 commodity. If there are any questions regarding the pass-through nature of a characteristic, contact the NSSA SQA representative for clarification.