RBA

1. Purpose of the Procedure
To evaluate and validate that each supplier has demonstrated capacity to make deliveries, fulfilling all specification requirements and purchase orders required by RBA.

2. Scope of Application
To assess and evaluate at origin the capacity of suppliers to ensure quality, establishing that a clear understanding must be reached regarding quality assurance, one method being that “RBA should trust the quality-assurance system of the supplier.”

3. Definition and Goal of the Approval Process
Approval is intended to certify to RBA that the supplier meets the needs to guarantee the future “quality of the product, service and information” required by RBA, and which appears in its supplier policy, within the level and type of service contracted.

4. Questionnaire and Basis for Assessing a Supplier
- Activity and products.
- Organization and operation.
- Technical potential: development, design, research, experience, etc.
- Industrial potential: means of production, facilities and maintenance systems.
- Production capacity and level of availability thereof.
- Economic and financial situation.
- Level of quality control and inspection.
- Existence of quality management and assurance.
- Organization and level of the Customer Service Department.
- Level of labor relations.

5. Approval Process Stages

5.1. Preselection
The initial contact will be at the RBA offices by appointment. Suppliers may identify and present their company. If the represented products meet the requirements of RBA, the Supplier will be asked to make a bid so that an assessment can be made of all the aspects that are needed to become familiar with the supplier and the techno-economic features of the product required.

5.2. Potential Assessment
Suppliers will be assessed strictly following a preset code and taking into account the integrity, discretion, confidentiality, industrial property, intellectual property and, above all, transparency of procedures.
This assessment will take place at the supplier’s facilities in a previously arranged visit.
The points assessed are those described in section four of this procedure.

6. Assessment Results
The assessment results will lead to the approval or nonapproval of a supplier, validating their capacity to meet future supply commitments according to the required conditions and in compliance with the criteria previously established by RBA.
Classification according to the results obtained:
Grade A: Must surpass 80% of the points required. The supplier is accepted for orders. Approved supplier.
Grade B: Must achieve 70% of the points required. The supplier is potentially acceptable for orders. Requires minor adjustments. Supplier conditionally approved.
Grade C: Below 55% of the points required. The supplier is not accepted for orders. Requires major adjustments. Supplier not approved.
Grade D: Below 45% of the required points. The supplier cannot be rated. Must implement basic systems.

7. Approval Validation
No order can be sent to a Supplier until they obtain a “Grade A” (a “Grade B” may provisionally and conditionally be accepted).
Once the first order has been made, and according to RBA requirements, the approval will then be validated by verifying that RBA specifications are strictly complied with in a period of no less than three months and no longer than six.