Consider the Role of a Vendor Survey within an EASA Compliant Part 145 Aviation Store
There are a number of ways we can assess the integrity of a Vendor/ Supplier with the objective of improving the supplier performance.
Understanding the purpose of Receipt Discrepancy Processes and Component Reliability Assessment including warranty issues.
Why would we carry out a Vendor Survey?
Essentially it is a process which sits alongside the Supplier Evaluation Procedures and enables an ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of the supply chain arrangement with a given vendor.
What do we want to know concerning our vendors?
We want to know how the effect is the product which is received from a particular supplier, and we measure this in a number of ways:
1/ The first way is to generate a receipt discrepancy report (RDR)
In the event that there are any anomalies during the receipt process, we allocate a scoring system which takes into account the number of issues, the size of the issue and the amount of business we are doing in terms of quantity and value.
In this way we apply a “weighting” which allows us to identify poor performing suppliers, so we can take additional quality assurance actions.
2/ Failed on Fit / Bad from Stock
The term failed on fit is used when a new component directly from Stores fails immediately when it is fitted on the aircraft – whilst this part is typically covered by warranty it is nevertheless an unwelcome disruption and all such events incur costs for the organisation.
Often such data as failed on fit / bad from stock does not appear as data within the reliability program so it is necessary to catch this information in other ways – typically be generating a failed on fit document which will act as an initiator for several actions.
Depending on the value of the failure the following may be considered.
a) Quality Investigation as to the reason for the issue
b) Review of Previous audits / events and re assessment of the vendor audit which was last carried out
3/ Poor Performance in Services
Components once fitted to the aircraft are expected to perform for many thousands of hours – however, when a component fails it is identified and considered in the context of the aircraft reliability system. Communication between the Reliability Department – and the Purchasing Department can identify the Vendor as opposed to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Issues
Essentially the objective is to ensure that we have the strongest and most effective Supplier. Vendor relationships and we are able to maintain the best cost controls.
Sofema Aviation Services www.sassofia.com and our sister company www.sofemaonline.com provide classroom and online training for regulatory and vocational training fully compliant with EASA requirements. Click here to see our “Classroom” or “Incompany” Logistic training. For requests and questions please email office@sassofia.com
