GM3 145.A.42(b)(i) Components    

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1

SUPPLIER EVALUATION

(a) The following elements should be considered for the initial and recurrent evaluation of a supplier’s quality system to ensure that the component and/or material is supplied in satisfactory condition:

(1) availability of appropriate up-to-date regulations, specifications (such as component handling/storage data) and standards;

(2) standards and procedures for the training of personnel and competency assessment;

(3) procedures for shelf-life control;

(4) procedures for handling of electrostatic sensitive devices;

(5) procedures for identifying the source from which components and materials were received;

(6) purchasing procedures that identify documentation to accompany components and materials for subsequent use by approved Part-145 maintenance organisations;

(7) procedures for incoming inspection of components and materials;

(8) procedures for control of measuring equipment that provide for appropriate storage, usage, and for calibration when such equipment is required;

(9) procedures to ensure appropriate storage conditions for components and materials that are adequate to protect the components and materials from damage and/or deterioration. Such procedures should comply with the manufacturers’ recommendations and relevant standards;

(10) procedures for adequate packing and shipping of components and materials to protect them from damage and deterioration, including procedures for proper shipping of dangerous goods (e.g. ICAO and ATA specifications);

(11) procedures for detecting and reporting of suspected unapproved components;

(12) procedures for handling unsalvageable components in accordance with applicable regulations and standards;

(13) procedures for batch splitting or redistribution of lots and handling of the related documents;

(14) procedures for notifying purchasers of any components that have been shipped and have later been identified as not conforming to the applicable technical data or standard;

(15) procedures for recall control to ensure that components and materials shipped can be traced and recalled if necessary;

(16) procedures for monitoring the effectiveness of the quality system.

(b) Suppliers which are certified to officially recognised standards that have a quality system that includes the elements specified in (a) may be acceptable; such standards include:

(1) EN/AS9120 and listed in the OASIS database;

(2) ASA-100;

(3) EASO 2012;

(4) FAA AC 00-56.

The use of such suppliers does not exempt the organisation from its obligations under 145.A.42 to ensure that supplied components and materials are in satisfactory condition and meet the applicable criteria of 145.A.42.

(c) Supplier evaluation may depend on different factors, such as the type of component, whether or not the supplier is the manufacturer of the component, the TC holder or a maintenance organisation, or even specific circumstances such as aircraft on ground. This evaluation may be limited to a questionnaire from the Part-145 organisation to its suppliers, a desktop evaluation of the supplier’s procedures or an on-site audit, if deemed necessary.