Evaluation and selection of subcontractors 4.6.2.1a

The standard requires the supplier to evaluate and select subcontractors on the basis of their ability to meet subcontract requirements, including the quality system and any specific quality assurance requirements. 

Although the title of this clause refers to subcontractors, this term is not used in ISO 9001 in the traditional sense of organizations supplying products or service to customer specifications. It is used in ISO 9001 to refer to any organization that supplies products or services to a customer whether to their own specification or a customer specification. For consistency therefore, the term subcontractor in this section has no special meaning. 

You need to develop documented procedures that define your subcontractor evaluation and selection process and in certain cases this may result in several closely-related procedures for use when certain conditions apply. Do not try to force every purchase through the same selection process. Having purchasing policies that require three quotations for every purchase regardless of past performance of the current subcontractor is placing price before quality. Provide flexibility so that the policies and procedures complexity match the risks anticipated. Going out to tender for a few standard nuts and bolts would seem unwise. Likewise, placing an order for lm of equipment based solely on the results of a third party ISO 9000 certification would also seem unwise. 

Preliminary subcontractor assessment To select credible subcontractors V V V 

Request for Quotation (RFQ) To obtain prices for products/services V V  

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