1. Quality Management System Requirements

Suppliers shall maintain a QMS compliant with ISO 9001, and aerospace‑sector suppliers shall meet additional AS/EN 9120 expectations where applicable.

• ISO 9001:2015 requires control of external providers per Clause 8.4, ensuring externally provided processes/products meet requirements.
• AS9120 incorporates all ISO 9001 requirements plus distributor‑specific controls for traceability, evidence of conformity, chain of custody, and counterfeit‑parts prevention.

If suppliers lack certification, they must still meet your defined quality requirements (as also shown in industry flow‑downs such as AN4’s QMS approval requirements).

2. Flow Down of Requirements to Sub‑Tier Suppliers

Suppliers must flow down all applicable PO requirements (including customer and regulatory requirements) to any sub-tier suppliers.

• ISO supplier requirements commonly require flow‑down of PO requirements to sub‑tiers.
• AS9120 requires flow‑down of contractual, QMS, and key‑characteristic requirements to sub‑tier suppliers.

3. Notification Obligations

Suppliers shall notify the organization of:

• Nonconforming product (actual or potential) immediately upon detection.
  • Supported by ISO flow‑down examples requiring defect notification and approval of disposition.
  • AS supports immediate notification and root cause actions.
• Changes to processes, products, services, facility location, or sub‑tier suppliers.
  • Required in both ISO and AS flowdowns.

4. Traceability & Record Retention

Suppliers must ensure full traceability from incoming materials to final shipment, including lot, batch, serial, and date coding where applicable.

• ISO and aerospace flowdowns require traceability records, material certifications, and retention periods (e.g., 3 years shown in ISO examples).
• AS9120 emphasizes chain of custody and traceability throughout the distributor’s entire handling process.

5. Certificates & Documentation Requirements

Each shipment shall include:

• Certificate of Conformance (C of C) or Certificate of Analysis (C of A)
  • Stated explicitly in AS and ISO flow‑downs.
• Relevant inspection/test reports, where required.
• Evidence of conformity to specifications, drawings, and technical data.

AS9120 requires distributors to maintain evidence proving compliance with specifications and maintain complete records.

6. Right of Access

Suppliers shall provide access to:

• Your organization
• Your customers (e.g., OEMs)
• Regulatory authorities (e.g., CAA/FAA)
  for verification and validation activities.
• This is mandated broadly across ISO and AS flow‑down templates.

7. Special Processes

Special processes (e.g., coating, heat treatment, NDT) must be performed by approved and qualified sources.

• ISO flowdowns require approved external providers for special processes.
• AS standards require approved processors per controlling specifications and traceability.

8. Counterfeit Parts Prevention

Suppliers shall implement controls to prevent introduction of counterfeit materials or parts.

• Aerospace flowdowns explicitly address counterfeit part prevention as a mandatory requirement.
• AS9120 places specific emphasis on verified supply chain traceability.

9. Personnel Competence

Suppliers must ensure personnel performing work affecting quality are competent and qualified.

• Common aerospace flow‑downs (e.g., Composiflex, PADM) require trained/qualified personnel and documented competence.

10. Product Safety & Ethical Behaviour (AS Requirement)

AS9120/AS9100 flowdowns require communicating expectations regarding:

• Product safety
• Ethical behaviour
  These are among the commonly flowed items mandated in AS9100 Clause 8.4.3 guidance.

11. Delivery & On‑Time Performance

Suppliers must deliver per agreed schedules and notify of any anticipated delays.

• Supported by ISO supplier requirement examples which require timeliness and communication of schedule changes.