Product Change Notification (PCN)
Training For Manufacturers
FEBRUARY 2012
REVISION B
Disclaimer
Training Objective
Product Change Notification (PCN) Training for Manufacturers is intended for all
Flextronics Manufacturers.
The Training Is Designed To:
• Inform Manufacturers About Flextronics’ Product Change Policy And Disclaimer
• Identify Manufacturer Responsibilities Regarding Product Change Notification
Management
• Define Reportable And Non Reportable Change Requirements (Interchangeable
And Non Interchangeable Changes)
• Document Key Information Required For Generating PCNs
• Coach Manufacturers On When And How To Notify Flextronics Of Changes
(Temporary Or Permanent) Being Made To Their Products And/or Processes
• Provide Reference Information On Change Types And Descriptions
Training Roadmap
I. Product Change – Policy, Disclaimer, and Manufacturer Responsibility
•
•
Flextronics Product Change Policy and Disclaimer
Manufacturer Responsibility
II. Product Change Notification (PCN) and Change Definitions
•
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Defining Change - Interchangeable and Non Interchangeable Changes
PCN Document
III. Documenting and Communicating PCNs
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Documenting PCNs - Mandatory Information
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End of Life (EOL) PCNs
Communicating PCNs
IV. References
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Reference to Change Types and Descriptions
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Acronyms
I.
Product Change Notification Process –
Flextronics Policy, Disclaimer, and
Manufacturer Responsibility
Flextronics Product Change Policy and Disclaimer
Flextronics Policy
All proposed temporary or permanent changes affecting material form, fit, or function
status shall be submitted using the required Flextronics PCN process. As Per Flextronics
General Supplier Quality Requirements (GPO-GPO-3-018-00), PCNs and information
shall be submitted as follows:
• All PCNs shall be submitted minimum 90 days prior to implementation
• PCNs for product discontinuance shall be submitted 180 days prior to last order
dates and 365 days prior to last shipment release dates.
Exceptions to this requirement may be based on pre-existing contractual requirements
that are deemed to take precedence.
Flextronics Disclaimer
The receipt of a Manufacturer’s PCN (including EOLs) by Flextronics, does not signify
acceptance of the proposed product or process change.
Manufacturer Responsibility
Flextronics Manufacturers must have a Change Communication Process in place
to promptly and accurately notify Flextronics of changes to Manufacturer products.
Change communication must include all proposed temporary/permanent changes
in parts, materials, and processes in production.
Flextronics Manufacturers are responsible for managing changes made by
subordinate manufacturers within their supply chain.
Note: The Product Change Notification process for subordinate
manufacturers is the same as the process for direct manufacturers.
II.
Product Change Notification (PCN) and
Change Definitions
Defining Change
1. Interchangeable Changes
Any change will be considered Interchangeable if ALL of the following criteria are
met:
•
No change to the component or assembly Form, based on the product
specifications. New features will be considered interchangeable if they do not violate
existing requirements
•
No change to the component or assembly Fit, based on the appropriate drawings
and tolerances
•
No change to the component or assembly Function, based on relevant product
specifications, including (but not limited to) performance, safety, reliability, and
environmental specifications.
Manufacturers are NOT expected to generate PCNs on Interchangeable Changes
unless they are contractually obligated to do so.
Defining Change
2. Non Interchangeable Changes
If any adjustments or modifications of new or existing product are required to meet
conditions of Form, Fit, or Function the changes are considered Non Interchangeable
The following changes will always be considered Non Interchangeable:
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•
•
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Addition Of New Requirements To Component / Assembly Form
New Controlled Dimensions Or Tolerance Modifications
Removal Of An Existing Requirement
Addition Of A New Requirement
Change of Fabrication Site, Country Of Origin, New Subcontractor, etc.
New Component Or Raw Material
Cosmetic Changes
Name Changes (Change In Name Of Company)
Nomenclature Changes (Change In Name Of Part Or Process)
Packaging Changes
Logistics Changes
If Previous Interchangeable Changes Have Created Issues
Manufacturers MUST generate PCNs on Non Interchangeable Changes.
PCN Documents
The PCN Document:
•
Is Created By Manufacturer As Part Of The Flextronics Change Management
Process
•
Informs Flextronics Of An Impending Change To A Part Or Product Provided by the
Manufacturer
•
Shall Be Transmitted Via Email
•
Is Sent Within Required PCN Lead Time
•
Shall Be Communicated In English
•
Shall Be Accessible In Terms Of Document Protection And Allow Copying
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Must Be Complete And Accurate
The Manufacturer:
•
Shall Submit At Least One PCN Document Per PCN
•
Shall Submit Attached Documents In MS Excel, MS Word, Or Adobe (PDF) Format
III.
Documenting and Communicating PCNs
Documenting PCNs : Mandatory Information
PCNs must be communicated at least 90 days prior to shipment of affected parts
(EOL PCNs - 180 days prior to last order dates and 365 days prior to last shipment release dates)
Manufacturer PCNs MUST contain:
PCN Number
Number assigned by Manufacturer to the PCN document. This number
must be referenced on all correspondence related to the PCN. If Mfr
does not assign a PCN number, Flextronics will assign a number and
issue a Corrective Action Request requesting the Manufacturer assign a
number or confirm the use of the Flex-assigned number.
PCN Issue Date
Date on which PCN is issued to Flextronics
Part Number / MPN
Number assigned to the component / part. Also called Manufacturer Part
Number (MPN)
Part Name
Name of the part undergoing change
Change Description
Description of the change
Reason for Change
Reason the change is being made to the part / product
PCN Effective Date
Date on which change described in PCN comes into effect
Manufacturer Contact
Manufacturer information including name (point of contact),
manufacturer address, email address, and other contact details
Example of a PCN Document
Example of a PCN Document
EOL PCNs
EOL Notification is a Change Notice from Manufacturer regarding parts that will no
longer be provided. EOL submission is accomplished using the PCN process which
includes EOL Change Type.
EOL PCNs MUST be submitted to Flextronics 180 days prior to last order dates and 365
days prior to last shipment release dates.
EOL PCN MUST include the following, in addition to standard PCN mandatory fields:
EOL Part Number / MPN
Unique Part number assigned by Manufacturer
EOL Part Name
Name of Part being discontinued
Reason for product discontinuation
Mandatory information must be provided
Last Time Buy Date
Final Date for purchase of discontinued product
Last Ship Date
Final Delivery Date of discontinued product
Equivalent alternative product, if
Alternative Part replacing discontinued part
available
Example of an EOL PCN
Example of an EOL PCN
Communicating PCNs
Where - Flextronics email
Manufacturers must submit PCNs electronically to pcn@flextronics.com
When - PCN Lead Time
PCNs shall be submitted to Flextronics minimum 90 days prior to implementation unless
contractually agreed upon. A PCN involving an End of Life (EOL) part shall be submitted 180
days prior to last order date and 365 days prior to last shipment release date.
How - PCN Format
PCN attachments shall be in MS Excel, MS Word, or Adobe (PDF) formats that allow content
copying or extraction. MPN Lists (Part Numbers) shall be in MS Excel or Adobe (PDF)
format.
Document formats that prevent copying are not permissible. These include Bitmaps, .jpg
files, web links, .gif files, HTML documents, and ASCII text files.
Flextronics rates Manufacturer PCNs on timeliness, accuracy, completeness, and
clarity of information.These ratings are included in the Manufacturer’s overall
performance rating.
PCN Process Flow
Flextronics communicates with Mfr only if
clarification is required
Summary
•
Manufacturers are responsible for submitting all change notifications to
Flextronics via email using the email address “pcn@flextronics.com”.
•
Manufacturers are responsible for implementing and maintaining an appropriate
change management system that allows them to meet Flextronics’ change
reporting requirements.
•
Manufacturers are responsible for reporting all non-interchangeable changes and
interchangeable changes based on this training and their contractual
requirements
•
Manufacturers should include all mandatory information in their PCN and EOL
documents.
•
Manufacturers shall report normal changes 90 days prior to implementation and
EOL changes 180 days prior to last order date and 365 days prior to final
shipment release date.
•
Manufacturers should report changes via email and in preferred formats as
detailed in the training.
IV.
References
Reference : Change Types and Descriptions
Change Type
Change Description
Acronym
Acquisition (Complete)
One company acquires another company in its entirety
ACQC
Acquisition (Partial)
One company acquires part of another company or
acquires a specific product line
ACQP
Design Change / Data Sheet
Spec Change
Non-interchangeable design modification including (but
not limited to) dimensions, performance, modification to
spec, software changes, new or modified CTF (critical to
function) parameters, includes new die revisions
DESIGN
Fabrication Site Change /
All changes to fabrication site, qualification levels, country FAB
Qualification / Country of Origin of origin, or additions of subcontractors must be reported
/New Subcontractor
New Component or Raw
Material Added
All changes to components or raw material must be
MATL
reported; this includes adding alternate sources, changing
brands, switching to components that weren’t included in
previous qualifications or environmental declarations
Reference : Change Types and Descriptions
Change Type
Change Description
Acronym
Cosmetic Change
All changes that will be visible must be reported (New
color, texture, etc) this includes changes to inspection
criteria that may result in different cosmetic quality
COSMETIC
Obsolescence
Obsolete, End of Life, Discontinued Products, some Die OBS
Rev changes and ordering part number nomenclature
changes. Any PCN that creates obsolescence of a part
(other than Acquisitions). Die Revision Changes that do
not change the ordering MPN should be categorized
Name Change
All changes to manufacturer or distributor name must be NAME
reported
Nomenclature Change
All changes to MPN nomenclature must be reported;
including elimination of product options
NOM
Reversal
Supplier reverses an existing PCN
REV
Reference : Change Types and Descriptions
Change Type
Change Description
Acronym
Process Change
A non-interchangeable process change is being made
(Rework, inspection, test, etc) A non-interchangeable
equipment change is being made (New process, manual to
auto, etc)
PROC
Environmental
Announcement
New compliancy features offered for existing parts (that
don’t involve any changes to the product) or new product
environmental announcements
ENV
Packaging and Media
All Changes to media must be reported (New media, tray to PKG
tape, change in product identification information of outer and
internal packing material/labeling, changes to
internal/external packaging, etc)
A non-interchangeable environmental requirements change STORE
is being made (Temperature, humidity, Moisture Sensitivity
Level (MSL), etc.).
Storage and Handling
Logistics
All Changes in logistics/distribution/shipping channel or
method (especially for sensitive product) must be reported
LOG
Reference : Change Types and Descriptions
Change Type
Change Description
Acronym
Roadmap
Continuous improvement notifications, etc
RMAP
Quality Alert Notifications
Notifications regarding quality issues on components
QAN
Multiple Types
Change overlaps with multiple change types.
MULTI
Other
PCNs not covered under any of the other existing
classes
OTH
Acronyms
Acronym
Description
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PCN
Product Change Notification
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EOL
End of Life
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MSL
Moisture Sensitivity Level
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ACQC
Acquisition (complete)
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ACQP
Acquisition (partial)
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DESIGN
Design / Data Sheet Spec Changes
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FAB
Fabrication Site change / qualification
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MATL
New Component or Raw Material Added
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COSMETIC
Cosmetic Changes
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OBS
Obsolescence
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NAME
Name Change
Acronyms
Acronym
Description
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NOM
Nomenclature Change
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REV
Reversal of a PCN
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PROC
Process Change
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ENV
Environmental Announcement
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PKG
Packaging and Media
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STORE
Storage and Handling
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LOG
Logistics
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RMAP
Roadmap
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QAN
Quality Alert Notifications
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MULTI
Multiple Types
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OTHR
Other
For Further Questions Please Contact:
PCN Team
pcn@flextronics.com
The information in this presentation is the intellectual property of Flextronics. Any
changes or omissions from its original format outside Flextronics are considered void
and not representative of this organization. Any forwarding to third parties or publication
even of parts thereof requires express and written approval by Flextronics. Hardcopy
printouts of this file should be treated as reference only. It is the user’s responsibility to
validate that the hardcopy represents the most current revision by consulting the online
reference or the relevant documentation center.
Thank You!