Process/Product Change Management
Richtek understands the importance and the impact of a product change could be to customers, so we establish change management procedure based on J-STD-046 and ZVEI-DeQuMa to mitigate potential risks.
PCN (Product Change Notice), in compliant with J-STD-046 and ZVEI-DeQuMa, manages the changes from initiation, request evaluation, verification, customer notification, and implementation.
Changes are categorized into "Customer Approval", "Information Notes Only" and "Not Notify Customer". For automotive applications products that all changes are considered as the classification of Customer Approval.
- Customer Approval: These changes may affect the form, fit, or function of the product, or may adversely affect the quality or reliability of the product. The PCN must be submitted at least 90 days before shipment. (The change shall be notified customer at least 180 days ahead of the planned shipment date of automotive applications product)
- Information Notes Only: A document (or PCN letter) is sent to customer for information notes only.
- Not Notify Customer: These changes does not affect the form, fit, function, quality, or reliability of the product. For this kind of changes, customers are not notified.
The following are the detailed PCN procedures.
1. Change Request:
When there’s change request from customers, suppliers or Richtek team, the Engineering Change Request is triggered on the ECN system.
2. Evaluate:
The Change Review Board from cross function team evaluates the feasibility of the change contents and establishes verification plan.
3. Review:
The Change Review Board reviews verification results to determine whether to carry out the change or not.
4. Notify:
In order to maintain compliance with J-STD-046 and ZVEI-DeQuMa, Richtek issues official Product Change Notices (PCNs) to customers who have made purchases within the past two years. These PCNs contain all necessary information about the change.
5. Implement:
When the change is classified as "Customer Approval", the change can be implemented by Richtek after getting customer approval. When the change is classified as "Not Notify Customer”, the change can be implemented by Richtek. When the change is classified as "Information Notes Only", the customer will also be notified and the change can be implemented by Richtek.