ABSTRACT
How often we find that the Purchasing Department was out of the quality loop because of its independent stature. Then the purchased item came in and was rejected. The inspection report indicated that the product was made by somebody who had absolutely no knowledge as to what kind of product quality the customer required. Now, you have to rework it at your expense, for you are out of time to meet the scheduled delivery requirement. Within a process-approach quality management system, the Purchasing Department becomes part of the team; after all we work for the same company and the same customer. Don’t we? So let’s bring this sacred cow into the fold in order that we all know our customers’ requirements for product quality. QOP 003 is the procedure that requires the Purchasing Agent and the Subcontractor to understand the product quality requirements expected to be realized in purchased products. This procedure is packed with preventive quality requirements in order that we don’t buy junk that would end up causing problems and wipe out any profit we calculated to make on the project.
