Sierra Circuits - Quality

We commit to consistently pursue excellence in product quality, cost, delivery, customer satisfaction, compliance with regulatory requirements through continuous improvement and maintain effectiveness of the Quality Management System.

• Continuous Improvement:
  Continuously improve our environmental performance by establishing and reviewing targets and objectives.
• Pollution Prevention:
  Prevent pollution by utilizing low toxicity raw materials; minimizing the use of raw materials and energy use; and supporting recycled product markets wherever economically viable.
• Regulatory Compliance:
  Operate in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local environmental regulations for chemical use, air emissions, wastewater discharges and waste management.

• Sierra Circuits' commitment to total quality begins at the top of the organization. Ken Bahl, President and CEO, personally heads the quality initiative.
• Our proprietary quality processes address several areas. We'll address them in sequence Quality in manufacturing your printed circuit board design.
• Quality processes begin as soon as your gerber files are received. Our Technical Support Center reviews every design and will call with problems or suggestions as soon as your PCB design is received.
• Throughout the manufacturing process, our engineers continuously check to see that the board is true to your specifications.
• Should an issue arise, you will be contacted immediately by an engineer with hands-on knowledge of your design and the issue, and who is empowered to resolve that issue.

The following is an overview of the quality inspection and testing that are part of our manufacturing process:

In-process inspection at critical processes

• Dry film
• Cuposit
• Etch
• Solder mask

Machine testing

• Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI)
• Electrical testing
• Impedance testing

Final inspection

• Visual
• Dimensional
• Microsection Analysis

• Sierra Circuits manufacturing personnel include IPC Certified Inspectors
• Operator On-the-Job Training and Certification
• SPC Training

As evidence of our commitment to our valued customers, we recently tripled our sales and service staff. We have a dedicated online customer service form at www.protoexpress.com/customer-services

But the only true measure of quality in customer service is your satisfaction. Sierra Circuits is committing to a comprehensive customer satisfaction process that will:

• Immediately identify and resolve individual customer issues
• Regularly determine overall customer satisfaction, the areas where we excel, and the areas in which we need to improve
• Provide input and direction to management regarding the areas in which we need to improve

Sierra Circuits has committed to quality in our customer communications:

• Customer communications are carefully planned, sequenced, and implemented to provide information about significant technology advances or promotional opportunities
• Increasingly, media will be deployed strictly per customer preferences
• Account Managers and Customer Service personnel are specifically trained in how to bring quality to customer interactions

• Sierra Circuits is an ISO 14001 compliant company. We are regularly audited on for proper waste disposal and environmental protection safeguards.
• Sierra Circuits is committed to avoiding the mining of materials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the surrounding areas (Conflict Regions). Sierra has adopted rules to implement reporting and disclosure requirements related to conflict minerals, as directed by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.
• This includes the abstaining of gold, tin, tantalum, and tungsten from these regions. Sierra Circuits fully supports the humanitarian goal of ending violent conflict in the DRC and surrounding countries. We are committed to the responsible sourcing of conflict minerals throughout our supply chain and to continuing to comply with the rules and regulations surrounding conflict minerals.

To reduce the risk of purchasing Counterfeit Parts, Sierra Circuits will:

• Not knowingly procure counterfeit material.
• Purchase whenever possible from original or their Authorized dealers. Preferably in the USA and Western Europe.
• Purchase from Brokers / Non-Franchised distributors after consideration of alternate parts, reasonable search of parts from franchised/authorized sources, and written approval from the customer.
• Employ a risk-based approach to reduce the frequency and impact of counterfeit material within Sierra Circuits acquisition process and life-cycle sustainment processes by applying prevention and early detection procedures to minimize the presence of counterfeit material within Sierra Circuit's supply chain.
• Investigate, analyze, and assess all cases of suspected counterfeit material.
• Document occurrences of suspect and confirmed counterfeit material to the customer and to the appropriate reporting systems including the Government Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP).

• The Sierra Circuits Inc. Supplier Code of Conduct ("Supplier Code") formalizes the key principles under which suppliers to Sierra Circuits Inc. are required to operate.
• In selecting suppliers, Sierra Circuits works hard to choose reputable business partners who are committed to ethical standards and business practices compatible with those of Sierra Circuits.
• This Supplier Code makes clear that, while we recognize differences in cultures and legal requirements, we expect those producing products for us or performing services for us (collectively "suppliers") do so in a manner aligned with the high standards and values representative of Sierra Circuits. It encompasses principles from the Defense Industry Initiative on Business Ethics and Conduct, the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition, the International Labor Organization, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations, AS 9100, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, and ISO 14001. Suppliers are required to comply with this Supplier Code and to have and maintain practices similar to Sierra Circuits Inc.
• This Supplier Code applies to all Sierra Circuits Suppliers, and to all Supplier facilities that perform work for Sierra Circuits.
• This Supplier Code is in no way intended to conflict with or modify the terms and conditions of any existing contract. In the event of a conflict, suppliers must first adhere to applicable laws and regulations, then the contract terms, followed by this Supplier Code of Conduct.

The following Supplier Quality Requirements will apply unless otherwise agreed:

• Certificate of Conformity:
  When stated on the Purchase Order:A signed Certificate of Conformity shall accompany each shipment and contain the following information: Supplier name, Purchase Order Number, Part Number, Revision, Quantity, Special Processes, Date, Authorized Signature, Title and Statement Certifying Product Compliance and Traceability as applicable.
• Quality System:
  The Supplier shall maintain an effective Quality Management System in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001, AS9100 or equivalent that provides a means of ensuring that products conform to specified requirements.
• Right of Access:
  Right of access of Sierra Circuits authorized representatives, their Customer and Regulatory Authorities to the applicable areas of all facilities, at any level of the supply chain, involved in the order and to all applicable records.
• Control of Quality Records:
  Where applicable, records related to the manufacture and/or process operations, including Inspection and Test are to be retained by the Supplier and made available on request for verification by Sierra Circuits, our Customer and Regulatory Authorities. Unless otherwise specified the period of retention shall be for a minimum of ten years.
• Non-Conforming Product:
  The Supplier shall obtain written approval from Sierra Circuits prior to the supply of any Non-conforming material. The Supplier shall obtain Sierra Circuits approval for non-conforming product disposition. The Supplier shall notify Sierra Circuits of any Non-conforming material or products discovered after delivery so that appropriate corrective action can be taken.
• Counterfeit Component Prevention:
  The Supplier shall have a process to ensure counterfeit components are not supplied to Sierra Circuits.
• Control of Special Processes:
  The Supplier and any Sub-Tier Suppliers used shall be Sierra Circuits and/or Customer approved for any process considered to be a Special Process.
• Changes in Product / Process Definition / Circumstances:
  The Supplier shall notify Sierra Circuits of changes in Product and/or Process, changes of suppliers, changes of manufacturing location and where required obtain Sierra Circuits approval. The Supplier shall inform Sierra Circuits of changes to its Certification, Registration and Accreditation status and any other changes that may affect Quality such as change of ownership.
• Sub-tier Suppliers:
  When the Supplier sub-contracts a process or requirement to a Sub-tier Supplier the applicable requirements must be flowed down to that supplier. Approval of a Sub-tier Supplier by Sierra Circuits does not relieve the Supplier of the responsibility for assuring that work performed or products supplied by the Sub-tier Supplier are in accordance with specification requirements.
• First Article Inspection:
  When agreed, the Supplier shall provide Sierra Circuits with a First Article Inspection Report (FAIR). This is required for the first batch produced from a new or modified drawing, after a change in the manufacturing process, or as directed by Sierra Circuits. A First Article Inspection is a representative sample from the batch and shall be 100% inspected for conformance to requirements.
• Performance Monitoring:
  Sierra Circuits will monitor supplier performance based on On Time Delivery and product Quality.
• Special Requirements, Critical Items or Key Characteristics:
  Sierra Circuits will identify, either within the Purchase Order or accompanying documentation any special requirements, critical items or key characteristics that need to be controlled and agree methods of doing so when applicable.
• Communication:
  The main point of contact for queries regarding the order is the Buyer identified on the Purchase Order who will redirect queries as necessary.
• Supplier's Employee Contribution to Product:
  The supplier should communicate to their employees their contribution to:
  • Product or Service Conformity.
  • Product Safety.
  • The importance of Ethical Behavior (Please refer to Supplier Code of Conduct-QAS-006-05).