Lyman,
Some good content in your Post # 623. Lets me try to put an overall plan together and organize the steps involved. Lets use the battery outsource as the prime example. Lets assume Boeing had never done business with them before and YUASA may be or not a good source for the LiIon battery. Since Boeing does not design or produce LiIon batteries, the first chore would be to develop an outline of what is required of the battery, all the attributes, must and must nots.
Steps: (Pretend you are Boeing)
1. Identify the basic battery requirements and performance expectations.
2. Identify believed to be capable supplier/suppliers (YUASA) and others (single source justification required if more sources exist)
3. Visit YUASA's battery plant, meet with management personnel, include a plant tour, generally discuss the program.
4. Establish that YUASA has an ISO 9001 Certificate (Quality Systems Management Requirements) of Approval. (If not, find another supplier)
5. Establish a Proprietary Agreement to protect sensitive data needed to be shared by both parties, submit to YUASA for agreement.
6. Establish Terms & Conditions for a Purchase Order, submit to YUASA for agreement.
7. Upon approval of the PA and T&Cs by YUASA, furnish to YUASA the Boeing general quality procedures and the general process required to gain approval for the LiIon battery, establish YUASA can and will be capable and willing to proceed knowing these items.
8. Send a request for quote to YUASA for the battery identifying quantity to be purchased and scheduling/delivery information.
9. Upon receipt of the quote from YUASA, Boeing sourcing, quality engineering, value engineering, and systems integration meet to finalize go/no go, further negotiations, etc.
10. If a go, Boeing Sourcing issues a purchase order to YUASA (This is the Contract).
This is Part 1 of a multiple step process, the balance will follow in another posting.