Effective Date: 7-24-2026 Rev. 3 (Supersedes Rev. 2, dated 1-2-25)
The following describes Flex Pro's requirements for communicating product quality and expectations to be flowed down to our external suppliers, to ensure that products and services conform to the applicable drawing, specification, and purchase order (PO) requirements. Unless otherwise specified on the PO, the following requirements apply to all orders, including commercial, DPAS-rated (15 CFR Part 700), and government/defense-related orders.
1. Non-Conforming Product Notification. Supplier notification is required in all cases of non-conforming products, including obtaining Flex Pro's approval prior to any disposition of supplier non-conforming material. Supplier shall notify Flex Pro within 24 hours of discovery in all cases where non-conforming material may have been shipped to Flex Pro or its customer.
2. Changes in Product / Process. Supplier notification, and Flex Pro's approval, is required prior to any change in product and/or process definition, including changes in manufacturing location or source of supply. Supplier shall provide a minimum of 90 days' advance notice of any such change.
3. Flow-Down to Sub-Tier Suppliers. The supplier shall flow down to its sub-tier suppliers all applicable requirements contained in Flex Pro's purchasing documents, including, as applicable, key characteristics, quality requirements, and statutory and regulatory requirements.
4. Certificates of Compliance. Certification(s) of compliance to all applicable specifications shall be provided if requested by Flex Pro:
5. Right of Entry. Right of entry shall be granted to Flex Pro, its customers, and applicable regulatory authorities to all facilities involved in the order, at any level of the supply chain, and to all applicable records, for the purpose of verifying product conformity and monitoring quality.
6. Records Retention. Records resulting from the processing of this order shall be retained for a minimum of ten (10) years after completion of Flex Pro's customer's contract, or longer if required by that customer. If Supplier disposes of records after this minimum, they shall be disposed of per Supplier's internal requirements, or per any specific disposition requirements flowed down on the Purchase Order. If a supplier goes out of business, the supplier must supply all records related to Flex Pro’s products and serves to comply with retention requirements as stated herein.
7. Lost or Damaged Product. Supplier is responsible for product that is lost or damaged while in its care, custody, or control.
8. Supplier Performance. Flex Pro will evaluate and record supplier performance against contractual requirements, including product characteristics/conformity, on-time delivery, completion of documentation, and responsiveness to corrective actions. Flex Pro reserves the right, at its discretion, to approve and/or disapprove a supplier for lack of performance.
9. Supplier Quality System. Supplier shall maintain a quality system that assures compliance with supplied documentation, including the purchase order, drawings, MOT, and specifications. A quality system certified to ISO 9001, AS9100, and/or Nadcap is preferred. Flex Pro will validate supplier quality system status by confirming sustained certification/approval, quality surveys, and/or on-site surveillance audits, as applicable.
10. Calibration System. Suppliers shall maintain an approved calibration system (where applicable) that ensures valid measurements within the appropriate accuracy and is traceable to NIST.
11. Calibration Supplier Accreditation. For calibration suppliers, ISO 17025 accreditation is preferred. Calibration certificates must identify the standards used and be traceable to NIST.
12. Special Processes & Customer-Approved Sources. Special processes performed on Flex Pro or customer product (e.g., heat treat, plating/anodize, welding, brazing, NDT, painting) shall be performed by sources approved by Flex Pro and/or the customer and, where required, Nadcap accredited. Supplier shall not release work to an unapproved special process source without Flex Pro's authorization.
13. Prevention of Counterfeit Parts. Supplier shall implement a counterfeit parts avoidance, detection, and mitigation plan (see AS9100D / ISO 9001:2015 § 8.1.4) consistent with the applicable industry standard: AS6174 for non-electronic parts/materials; and for electronic parts, AS6496 (franchised distributors), AS6081 (independent distributors), AS5553A (manufacturers), or AS6171 (test houses), as applicable. Where required by the customer, supplier shall maintain an active GIDEP membership to screen for, and report, counterfeit and suspect counterfeit parts.
15. Foreign Object Debris/Damage (FOD) Prevention. Where applicable to the scope of work, supplier shall maintain a FOD prevention program consistent with AS9146.
16. First Article Inspection. When required by the Purchase Order or drawing, supplier shall perform and submit a First Article Inspection Report (FAIR) in accordance with AS9102, including a Delta FAI following any change in processes.
17. Key Characteristics / Variation Management. Where key characteristics or special characteristics are identified on the drawing or Purchase Order, supplier shall maintain variation data and control in accordance with AS9103.
18. Test Specimens / Coupons. Where required, supplier shall produce and provide test specimens or coupons for design approval, inspection, investigation, or auditing purposes.
19. Digital Product Definition (DPD) / Model-Based Definition (MBD). When technical data is provided in model-based / digital product definition form, supplier shall control and use such data in accordance with the applicable customer DPD/MBD specification.
20. Personnel Competence. Supplier shall ensure that personnel performing work affecting product conformity (including inspection, test, and special processes) are appropriately qualified, trained, and/or certified as required by the applicable specification.
21. Government / Customer Source Inspection. When Government Source Inspection (GSI) or Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) inspection is required prior to shipment, supplier shall make product and applicable records available and shall not ship until such inspection/release is complete.
22. Part Marking, Packaging, Preservation & Labeling. Supplier shall comply with all part marking, packaging, preservation, and labeling requirements specified on the applicable drawing, specification, or Purchase Order.
23. Revision & Document Control. Supplier shall perform work only against the current, released revision of drawings and specifications provided by Flex Pro. Obsolete or superseded documents shall not be used. Supplier shall promptly notify Flex Pro of any discrepancy identified in the technical data provided.
24. Purchase Order Acknowledgment. Supplier shall acknowledge acceptance of the Purchase Order, including all flowed-down engineering, specification, and quality requirements, prior to commencing work.
25. Employee Awareness. Supplier shall ensure its employees are aware of: their contribution to product or service conformity; their contribution to product safety; and the importance of ethical behavior.
26. Conflict Minerals. Supplier must provide material that is “DRC conflict free” as defined by applicable SEC rules. Any required conflict mineral content must be from recycled or scrap sources or originate from outside of the DRC Covered Countries. Material that contains conflict minerals that originated in a DRC Covered Country will be deemed non-conforming and unacceptable.
27. Export Control (ITAR / EAR). If applicable (as stated on the Purchase Order), any technical data (e.g., specifications, drawings, models) provided by Flex Pro may be export-controlled under the U.S. Department of State International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR, 22 CFR 120–130) and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Administration Regulations (EAR, 15 CFR 730–774). Disclosure (including oral or visual disclosure) or transfer of this information to foreign persons is prohibited without the required U.S. Government authorization.
28. DPAS-Rated Orders. If the order is a DPAS (15 CFR 700) rated order, the following applies: