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

• Defining Change - Interchangeable and Non Interchangeable Changes

• PCN Document

III. Documenting and Communicating PCNs

• Documenting PCNs - Mandatory Information

• End of Life (EOL) PCNs

• Communicating PCNs

IV. References

• Reference to Change Types and Descriptions

• Acronyms

I. Product Change Notification Process –

Flextronics Policy, Disclaimer, and

Manufacturer Responsibility

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.

Flextronics Product Change Policy and Disclaimer

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:

Manufacturers are NOT expected to generate PCNs on Interchangeable Changes

unless they are contractually obligated to do so.

• 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.

Defining Change

• 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

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:

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

• 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

available

Alternative Part replacing discontinued part

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 /

Qualification / Country of Origin

/New Subcontractor

All changes to fabrication site, qualification levels, country

of origin, or additions of subcontractors must be reported

FAB

New Component or Raw

Material Added

All changes to components or raw material must be

reported; this includes adding alternate sources, changing

brands, switching to components that weren’t included in

previous qualifications or environmental declarations

MATL

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

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

OBS

Name Change All changes to manufacturer or distributor name must be

reported

NAME

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

tape, change in product identification information of outer and

internal packing material/labeling, changes to

internal/external packaging, etc)

PKG

Storage and Handling A non-interchangeable environmental requirements change

is being made (Temperature, humidity, Moisture Sensitivity

Level (MSL), etc.).

STORE

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

Reference : Change Types and Descriptions

Acronyms

Acronym Description

• PCN Product Change Notification

• EOL End of Life

• MSL Moisture Sensitivity Level

• ACQC Acquisition (complete)

• ACQP Acquisition (partial)

• DESIGN Design / Data Sheet Spec Changes

• FAB Fabrication Site change / qualification

• MATL New Component or Raw Material Added

• COSMETIC Cosmetic Changes

• OBS Obsolescence

• NAME Name Change

Acronym Description

• NOM Nomenclature Change

• REV Reversal of a PCN

• PROC Process Change

• ENV Environmental Announcement

• PKG Packaging and Media

• STORE Storage and Handling

• LOG Logistics

• RMAP Roadmap

• QAN Quality Alert Notifications

• MULTI Multiple Types

• OTHR Other

Acronyms

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!