1.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to communicate Diemasters Manufacturing Company, Inc., expectations to our suppliers of materials, services, components, and tooling. These expectations may be specifically communicated herein, or may be referenced in an associated document. When in paper format, this document is considered reference only. The most current expectations and forms are available online at www.thediemasters.com.

return to top

2.

Proprietary Information Sharing

In the normal course of doing business, it becomes necessary to share information between our companies. The information is often exchanged by phone, fax or e-mail. Data is also obtained when visiting your facility or ours, but also may be obtained when visiting The Diemasters’ customer’s facility(s). Any and all information obtained by you, regardless the manner, must be handled with strictest confidence and may not be disseminated in any form without prior written authorization. The following is a partial list of data we consider confidential: customer specifications, technical data, engineering drawings, customer names, plant layout(s), equipment lists, or procedures. Confidentiality (pdf)

return to top

3.

Products Purchased by Diemasters Mfg. Co., Inc.

The Diemasters purchases a wide range of products. A partial list includes metal strip stock in sheet and coil form, fasteners and hardware, injection molded components, machined and laser cut components, metal stampings, connectors and assemblies. We also use a number of service processes, including plating, painting, silk screening, heat treating, cleaning, and de-burring.

Being a manufacturer of metal stampings and assemblies, with a full-support tool room, we purchase a wide variety of tooling and MRO items. We also consume a variety of welding gasses.
Metal Coil and Sheet Stock Instructions(pdf)
Tooling Standards (PDF coming soon)

return to top

4.

Supplier Qualification Process

Suppliers shall be evaluated and selected on the basis of their ability to meet The Diemasters' and customer’s requirements including the quality system and any specific Quality Assurance requirements. Supplier’s evaluation and selection shall be performed based on the following criteria: a) On-site assessment audits, evaluate and review subcontractor’s quality system and operations; b) Self-assessment audit, and/or, c) Long standing acceptable quality performance (grand-fathered in).
Supplier Assessment Questionnaire (pdf)

return to top

5.

Quality Expectations

We expect our suppliers to adopt ISO 9001:2000 (minimum) as a fundamental quality system. TS 16949:2002 would be preferred. Suppliers may be requested to participate in an internal APQP team process. Typical areas addressed, but are not limited to, include Design/Tooling issues, Control Plans, Gauging/check fixtures, Value Added (VA)/ Value Engineering (VE), and Packaging.

Supplier Quality System Requirements (pdf) Suppliers who ship non-conforming product will be expected and required to respond to The Diemasters’ Supplier Corrective Action Report (SCAR). Failure to respond to this corrective action within the time allotted will result in a negative impact on your supplier rating.
SCAR (pdf)

The Diemasters depends heavily on its Outside Service suppliers. The main reason we use the suppliers that we do is because they offer a service that exceeds our internal capabilities. We require our Outside Service suppliers to provide services that result in 100% conformance to our specifications on 100% of our parts. We expect these suppliers to take full responsibility, financial and otherwise, if it is determined that their processes are noncompliant owing to negligence. We also expect suppliers to process our parts using FIFO principles and cannot accept partial shipments without prior authorization.

return to top

6.

Delivery Expectations

We require our suppliers to ALWAYS be 100% on time of the agreed-upon delivery dates. "On-time" is defined as three (3) days early, zero days late. All costs incurred due to late delivery (e.g. plant down time or excess freight) are the responsibility of the supplier. The Diemasters reserves the right to refuse or return without prior authorization any product shipped early or over shipped in excess of 5% (without prior authorization).

return to top

7.

Packaging and Shipping Requirements

All packaging must be in conformance with The Diemasters’ Packaging Requirements.
Packaging and Shipping Requirements (pdf)

return to top

8.

Freight Responsibility

Unless otherwise stated, all items sold to The Diemasters are considered priced freight FOB, Diemasters Mfg. Co., Inc. In those situations when the Buyer authorizes “collect” freight terms, the Buyer will designate an approved carrier. The freight terms and carrier selection will be noted on the purchase order. Deviation from any carrier assign may result in charge-backs. All premium freight payable to Diemasters Mfg. Co. must be authorized in advance.

return to top

9.

Supplier Rating

Suppliers shall be audited on the basis of projected purchase dollar volume, product complexity, and/or order frequency. Existing suppliers shall be monitored and rated on their ability to meet The Diemasters' and its customers' specifications, requirements, quality, and delivery expectations. For new tooling suppliers, The Diemasters may decide that an on-site audit is required, depending on the tool complexity and/or urgency of program.
Supplier Rating Instructions (pdf)
Example: report card (pdf)

return to top

10.

Supplier Development

When deemed necessary, The Diemasters reserves the right to perform on-site supplier quality system development in cooperation with its suppliers. The goal would be to assist the supplier in developing quality systems consistent with recognized TS 16949:2002 guidelines. Assessments, if part of the supplier development, will occur at supplier specified frequency.

return to top

11.

The Diemasters and its Customer’s Verification at Subcontractor’s Premises

Where specified in its customer’s contract, The Diemasters reserves the right to verify purchased services applied to The Diemasters’ products at the subcontractor’s premises. The Diemasters will specify such verification arrangements on the purchase order and document the method of product inspection plans. Such actions shall be taken at The Diemasters' request and/or when and where deemed appropriate.

return to top

12.

Supplier Charge-backs

We greatly appreciate the valuable service suppliers offer The Diemasters. You are an asset to us and have helped us achieve success and profitability. So, thank you for partnering with us.

The main reason we use suppliers like you is because you offer a service that exceeds our capabilities. We have identified our core competencies and will continue to focus our resources accordingly. We consider ourselves to be the professionals in our field. Likewise, we consider you to be the professionals in your field. As such, we depend on you and require you to be in 100% conformance to our specifications on 100% of our parts.

When you process parts for us, we are going to assume the parts are processed correctly and are in full conformance. We expect you to take full responsibility, financial and otherwise, if it is determined that your processes are noncompliant owing to your negligence. Also, we expect you to process our parts using FIFO principles and cannot accept partial shipments without prior authorization.

return to top

13.

Control of Records, Documents and Retention Requirements.

Records shall be created as mutually agreed in order to provide evidence of compliance to specifications and requirements. Organizational records should be regarded as company assets and should be managed to protect the company in the event of a product liability lawsuit. Records must be maintained in such a way as to ensure they remain legible, readily identifiable, and easily retrievable. In compliance of TS 16949:2002 requirements, a documented procedure shall be established to address areas of identification, storage, protection, retrieval, retention time and disposition of records.

return to top

14.

Governmental, Safety and Environmental Regulations

Purchased materials and components sold or supplied to The Diemasters shall satisfy current governmental and safety constraints on restricted, toxic and hazardous materials, as well as environmental, electric and electromagnetic considerations applicable to the country of manufacture and sale.

return to top

15.

Standard Terms and Conditions of a purchase order.

Unless otherwise stated, The Diemasters’ standard terms and conditions apply to every purchase order issued by authorized The Diemasters’ personnel.
Standard Terms and Conditions (pdf)

return to top

16.

NAFTA Reporting

Suppliers to The Diemasters are required to provide, if requested, a completed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) certificate of Origin attesting to the qualification of the supplier’s originating materials under NAFTA. Any charges due to NAFTA due to non-compliance will be charged back to the suppliers that fail to submit NAFTA certificates of origin to The Diemasters as required.
NAFTA (pdf)

return to top