QMS-000431 REV A “NX PPAP SUBMISSION PROCESS”

Production Part Approval Process - Submission Process

Purpose: The purpose of this document is outline, describe, and demonstrate NEXTracker’s Production
Part Approval Process (PPAP) within our internal PLM software, Arena.

Scope: Within the scope of this document is how the part specific PPAP documentation is submitted for
review by supplier, the internal review steps, and finally the approval types. Outside of the scope of this
document is the PPAP template and how to populate the PPAP with the required information.

Revision History:

Revision Date By Description of Change

A 10/21/2019 Tyler Watson Initial Release

View of PPAP Submission Quality Process ‘Summary’ Tab:

The current status of a supplier’s and/or product’s PPAP Submission can be easily viewed from this
summary tab, which will allow for quick and insightful interdepartmental review and understanding of
status, expected timeline, next actions and action owners

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0. Step 0. Create PPAP Quality Process [Quality]

0.1. Quality manager -or- supplier quality engineer will create a new “quality process” within Arena
PLM’s Quality world for capturing documentation, managing approvals and communicating
status of supplier’s submission.
0.1.1.Log-in to Arena, navigate to “Quality”, select drop-down of “New Quality Process”

0.1.1.1.
0.1.2.Enter the PPAP “summary tab” information as described in image below
0.1.2.1. Title Nomenclature: (Part #) - (REV) - (Supplier) - (Sub-supplier) - (Part
Description)

0.1.2.2.
0.1.3.Add supplier access to PPAP Quality Process by selecting “add supplier access,” marking
the check-box next to all supplier representatives and selecting “add access.”

0.1.3.1.
0.1.3.2. Check to ensure that the supplier has been added under supplier access tab.
0.1.4. Navigate to “Detail” Tab and add ‘supplier’ and ‘NX Item’ and/or ‘Supplier Item” to Step 1.
0.2. Notify supplier that quality process is created
0.2.1. Via “Email a Link” function

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0.2.2. Send direct message to supplier with link to PPAP Quality Process

1. Step 1 “Awaiting PPAP Submission” [Supplier]

1.1. Log-in to Arena, navigate to PPAP Quality Process, select “details” tab, add information below.

1.1.1.
1.2. Select “Edit Details” field, and enter all required information:
1.2.1. Part Classification from drop-down
1.2.2. NEXTracker Part Number
1.2.3. NEXTracker Part Description
1.2.4. Supplier Name from drop-down
1.2.5. All sub-suppliers and tooling codes represented in PPAP submission
1.2.6. Submission Type from drop-down
1.2.7. Add today’s date to “Add PPAP Submission” field

1.2.7.1.
1.3. Select “Complete” button on Step 1 in order to close this step and prompt next action
1.3.1. Send notification to SQE that information has been uploaded.
2. Step 2 “Supplier Quality Engineer Review” [Quality]
2.1. Log-in to Arena, navigate to PPAP Quality Process, select “details” tab, scroll down to Step 2
and add information below.

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2.1.1.
2.2. Scroll back to top of quality process and select “edit details,” navigate to pane below, and add
any and all required information.

2.2.1.
2.3. Select “Complete” button on Step 2 in order to close this step and prompt next action
2.3.1. Send notification to responsible part engineer that information has been uploaded.
2.3.1.1. If unsure, please refer to initial in revision block of assembly part drawing.
3. Step 3 “Dimensional Deviation Review” [Quality/Product Engineer]
3.1. Log-in to Arena, navigate to PPAP Quality Process, select “details” tab, & scroll down to Step 3.

3.1.1.
3.2. Select ‘Edit Details.’ The supplier quality engineer shall select the responsible part engineer
and identify if a dimensional deviation is being requested by the supplier (items in red).
3.2.1.
3.3. Product engineer shall review the “Product Dimension Inspection Report(s)” in the PPAP
submission (uploaded in Step 0). If dimensional deviation is requested by supplier is:
3.3.1. Acceptable, then product engineer shall ‘Edit Details’ to change “Dimensional Deviation
Acceptable” field to ‘Yes’ and add reference to ECO that will carry the drawing update to
bring new product into compliance (items in blue).
3.3.2. Rejected, them product engineer shall ‘Edit Details’ to change “Dimensional Deviation
Acceptable” field to ‘No.’

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3.3.3.
3.4. Select ‘Complete’ Button to close Step./
4. Step 4 “Dimension Deviation Review” [Product Engineer]
4.1. If dimensional deviation requested is acceptable or there is no deviation request, then product
engineer will ‘Approve’ Step 4.
4.2. If dimensional deviation is rejected, then produce engineer will ‘Reject’ Step 4 and add all
dimensions that were rejected in the “Comments” section. These rejected dimensions will be
added to the supplier improvement plan (Step 7).

4.2.1.
5. Step 5 “Packaging Proposal Review” [NPI Engineer]
5.1. NPI/Packaging Engineer will review the “Packaging Proposal” sheet in the PPAP submission
(uploaded in Step 0).
5.1.1. If packaging proposal is acceptable, then NPI engineer will ‘Approve’ Step 5. If packaging
proposal is new, then NPI Engineer shall add the packaging method to working revision of
OPS-000090 document.
5.1.2.If packaging proposal is rejected, then NPI engineer will ‘Reject’ Step 5. These violates will
be added to the supplier improvement plan (Plan 7).

5.1.2.1.
6. Step 6 “Quality Manager Review” [Quality]
6.1. Quality Manager will review entire PPAP submission (uploaded in Step 0).
6.1.1. If acceptable, and there is no other rejections from previous two steps, then PPAP
submission moves to Step 10 and is fully qualified and approved for production.
6.1.2. If acceptable, and there is rejections from previous two 2 steps, then improvement plan is
updated in Step 7.
6.1.3. If rejected, then improvement plan is updated in Step 7.

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6.1.3.1.
7. Step 7 “Improvement Plan” [Quality/Supplier]
7.1. If any of the previous three steps are rejected, then the supplier will be provided a “Supplier
Improvement Plan” which communicates the aspects of the product or PPAP submission that
require improvement.
7.2. The PPAP submission will remain at this step in the PPAP submission process while the supplier
is executing improvement plan.
7.3. Quality Manager will ‘Edit Details’ to utilize drop-down field to indicate if “Improvement Plan
Required” and indicate the date of upload. The supplier improvement plan will be added to the
step by selecting the ‘+’ symbol near the “Affected.”
7.3.1.This is where the supplier can subsequently receive feedback.

7.3.2.
Expected Completion
Assembly P/N Sub-Component Status Waiting on Start Date Action NX Remarks Supplier Remarks Critical to Product Launch?
Date?

7.3.3.
7.4. Select ‘Complete’ Button to close Step.
7.5. Quality Manager will notify the supplier that improvement plan
8. Step 8 “Conditional Approval Granted [Program Manager]
8.1. In the event that product demand and risk of project-related liquidated damages outweighs the
product risk detailed in improvement plan, then Conditional Approval can be granted.
8.2. Conditional Approval will permit the supplier to produce the specific assembly/part in the PPAP
submission for a limited quantity/time/PO in order to meet project schedules.
8.3. To receive Conditional Approval, two approvals are needed from both the VP of Quality as well
as VP of Supply Chain whom will review the risk and decide.
8.3.1. If granted, then the PPAP submission will remain at this step for the indicated production
quantity/time/PO. After expiration, the step will move back to Step 7 and production will
cease until supplier improvement plan is fully executing and verified.
8.3.2. If rejected, then step will move back to Step 7.

8.4.
9. Step 9 “Improved PPAP Submission” [Supplier]

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9.1. After supplier improvement plan is fully executing and verified, the supplier shall:
9.1.1. Upload the improved PPAP submission via the ‘+’ sign under the “Affected” field in Step 9.
9.1.1.1. The file category shall be “Production Part Approval Process.”
9.1.2.‘Edit Details’ of the step to indicate if submission is required and to add the date that
submission was uploaded for review.

9.2.
9.3. Select ‘Complete’ Button to close Step.
9.4. Supplier shall notify quality manager and engineer that improved PPAP submission is available
for review.
10. Step 10 “Qualified and Approved” [Quality]
10.1. Quality Manager will review the improved PPAP submission.
10.1.1. If all aspects of improvement plan have been executing and verified by supplier’s quality
engineer, then quality manager will ‘Approve’ the step.
10.1.2. If any aspect is not fulfilled or found unsatisfactory, then a second supplier
improvement plan is added to Step 7. PPAP submission status is moved from Step 9 back
to Step 7 whilst supplier executes secondary Improvement Plan.

10.1.3.
10.1.4. Once ‘Fully Qualified and Approved’ by the Quality team, a notification (either via “Email
a Link” or direct email) will be sent to the supplier and NX program manager notifying the
teams of status.
10.1.5. Select ‘Complete’ on the top ribbon of the PPAP Submission Quality Process to close.