SD-6 Provisions Governing QualificationThese provisions are issued as guidance for manufacturers and their authorized distributors who wish to submit products for qualification by the Department of Defense. A product may be qualified only when a governing federal or defense specification or non-government standard contains a requirement for qualification. Lists are not otherwise established for qualification.

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Provisions Governing Qua/ification SD-6

products without incurring prohibitive testing costs. A product that meets the established qualification requirements will be listed in an electronic QPL.

Qualified Manufacturers List

A QML focuses on qualifying an envelope of manufacturer's materials and processes rather than individual products. A QML will normally be appropriate for items of supply that experience very rapid technological advances or have a myriad of variations or custom designs that make individual product qualification impractical or excessively expensive. A QML applies to processes or materials that generally meet the following criteria:

1.   They do not have recognized industry part numbers.

2.   They are procured to a specification that covers a wide range of technologies-such as hybrid microcircuits.

3.   They are a family of products with similar characteristics-such as printed wiring boards. Representative worst case test vehicles or representative samples that contain all potential

combinations of materials and processes used during production are carefully examined to determine acceptability limits. As evidence that those processes and materials meet the established qualification requirements, the envelope of acceptable processes and materials will be listed on an electronic QML.

Intent of a QPL or a QML

An electronic QPL or QML allows the manufacturer to provide, and the purchaser to obtain, satisfactory pre-contractual evidence that a product or a family of products has been tested and has met the requirements of the applicable specification. The purpose is to:

1.   Establish and standardize the requirements for evidence of manufacturer's capability in advance of acquisition.

2.   Reduce acquisition lead time.

3.   Reduce test costs by minimizing redundant, long, and expensive tests.

4.   Provide an additional tool for optimizing the relationship between engineering risk and quality assurance cost.

5.   Improve readiness through continuous availability of reliable products from viable suppliers.

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