Purpose

• To define the point in the production process and the date at which a given design change will be implemented.
• The date at which the change is / is planned to be effective.

Applicability

• All changes to design/design documentation by this Document Control function.

Policy/Practice

• The following effectivity points will be shown on the change form and are defined to reflect the point in the process at which the new design will be implemented:
  1. Next Order – Next order placed to a supplier if a purchased item or to the fabrication shop if an item is fabricated in house.
  2. Supplier – Items on order are to be affected by Buyer action with the Supplier(s). It is expected that the supplier will be changing all items not yet fabricated by the effective date. If the item is fabricated in house, Operations must change all items not fabricated by the date specified.
  3. Receiving Inspection – All items received from supplier(s) on or after the effective date must contain the change (the easiest point to verify for purchased items).
  4. Issue – All issues from the warehouse on or after the effective date specified. (Most ERP systems use this date for parts list changes.)
  5. In Assembly – The items built on or after the date specified.
  6. In Test – All items tested on or after the date specified.
  7. In Burn In – All items placed into elevated temperature run in / test on or after the date specified.
  8. System Test – All items put into system test on or after the effective date.
  9. FGS – Affect all items in Finished Goods Stock. Must have the approval of the Operations VP to specify this point.
• Items built (fabrication or assembly) or tested prior to the effective date need not be changed if recycled for rework prior to shipment.
• All items in the manufacturing pipeline prior to the effective point will be affected by the change.
• The customer returned goods area will not be affected by the effective point/date. That is, if returned goods are to be affected it must be by retrofit notations on the change order.

Procedure

• Not applicable.

Primary Responsibility

• The Production Control Department will be responsible for maintaining this standard.
• Production control planner may take exception to this standard by noting on the change form why exception was taken.

Authorization