PURCHASE ORDER VENDOR QUALITY REQUIREMENTS

Revision Date: 08 / 03/ 2026

Version: 1.0

1. Purpose

This document establishes the minimum quality requirements for all products manufactured by vendors under any Fluent Purchase Order (PO). These requirements apply to every release issued under a Purchase Order unless otherwise specified in writing by Fluent’s Engineering Department (Fluent Engineering).

By accepting a Purchase Order or any release issued against a Purchase Order, the vendor acknowledges and accepts these quality requirements as part of the agreement to purchase products.

2. Scope

These requirements apply to all outsourced manufacturing performed on behalf of Fluent, including but not limited to:

• Weldments
• Machined Parts
• Fabricated Parts
• Laser Cut Components
• Formed Components
• Assemblies
• Purchased-to-Print Components
• Prototype Parts
• Production Parts
• Any product manufactured from a Fluent engineering drawing or engineering specification.

3. Governing Documents

The following documents establish product requirements in the following order of precedence:

1. Purchase Order Release

2. Latest Released Engineering Drawing

3. Engineering Specifications

4. Approved Written Engineering Deviations or Waivers

5. Vendor Quality Requirements (this document)

If any conflict exists between documents, the vendor shall immediately notify Fluent Engineering before manufacturing continues. Vendor shall not make any of its own assumptions or proceed with manufacturing without seeking clarification from Fluent Engineering in writing.

4. Vendor Quality Responsibility

The vendor is solely responsible for ensuring that every part, assembly, and weldment shipped to Fluent fully conforms to the latest released engineering drawing, applicable specifications, and purchase order requirements.

The vendor shall maintain manufacturing and quality management systems sufficient to ensure repeatable, compliant production.

Vendor responsibilities include verification of:

• Product dimensions
• Critical characteristics
• Weld quality
• Material compliance
• Manufacturing processes
• Inspection methods
• Final acceptance prior to shipment

Completion of the Vendor QA Inspection Sheet certifies that the vendor has verified compliance with all applicable requirements.

Vendor inspection does not relieve the vendor of responsibility for product quality.

5. Process Control

The vendor shall maintain effective control over all manufacturing processes that may affect product quality.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Operator qualification and training
• Personnel performance
• CNC programming
• Machine capability and accuracy
• Fixture condition
• Tool wear
• Welding fixtures
• Inspection equipment
• Calibration systems
• Material traceability
• Process repeatability

Internal manufacturing issues remain the vendor's responsibility and shall be corrected before shipment.

Having any or all of the above process controls in place does not relieve the vendor of compliance with engineering drawings or specifications.

6. Inspection Requirements

Fluent Engineering will identify critical characteristics on engineering drawings where required.

Unless otherwise specified, vendors shall perform and document inspections as follows.

Parts

• First Piece Inspection
• Fifth Piece Inspection
• Tenth Piece Inspection
• Every Fiftieth Piece thereafter
• Additional inspections as required by the engineering drawing or purchase order

Weldments

Every weldment shall receive:

• Complete dimensional verification of designated Critical Characteristics
• Weld verification
• Visual inspection
• Overall geometry verification

Each weldment shipment shall include a completed Vendor QA Inspection Sheet signed and dated by the vendor.

7. Engineering Approval Requirements

The engineering drawing is the controlling manufacturing document.

If a vendor cannot manufacture a product exactly as specified:

• Production shall stop.
• Fluent Engineering shall be notified immediately.
• No deviation shall be implemented without written approval.

Only Fluent Engineering may authorize:

• Drawing revisions
• Temporary deviations
• Repairs
• Rework methods
• Alternate manufacturing methods
• Use-as-is dispositions

Verbal approvals are not valid.

Products that do not meet drawing requirements shall not be shipped without written Fluent Engineering authorization.

8. Shipment Requirements

Each shipment shall include, as applicable:

• Completed Vendor QA Inspection Sheet
• Material Certifications
• Heat Treatment Certifications
• Coating Certifications
• Welding Certifications
• Any additional documentation required by the Purchase Order

Shipments missing required documentation may be rejected.

9. Receiving Inspection

Fluent reserves the right to inspect, audit, or verify any product received under a Purchase Order.

Receipt of product does not constitute final acceptance.

If any product is determined to be nonconforming during receiving inspection, manufacturing, assembly, testing, or final inspection, Fluent may reject the product regardless of the vendor's inspection records.

10. NonConforming Product

Products that fail to comply with engineering drawings, specifications, approved deviations, or Purchase Order requirements are considered nonconforming.

At its sole discretion, Fluent may:

• Reject the shipment
• Return material to the vendor
• Require replacement product
• Require vendor-funded rework or repair
• Issue a Vendor Corrective Action Request (SCAR)
• Suspend future purchase order releases
• Conduct vendor quality audits
• Remove the vendor from the Approved Vendor List
• Recover reasonable costs associated with nonconforming product, including inspection, sorting, rework, replacement, production delays, freight, and administrative expenses where permitted by the purchase agreement

Corrective action responses shall include:

• Root Cause Analysis
• Containment Actions
• Corrective Actions
• Preventive Actions
• Implementation Timeline

11. Purchase Order Acceptance

Acceptance of any Purchase Order or any release issued under a Purchase Order constitutes the vendor's agreement that:

• All products will be manufactured to the latest released engineering drawings and specifications.
• The Purchase Order, engineering documentation, and this Vendor Quality Requirements document collectively define the contractual requirements for the supplied product.
• No deviations will be made without prior written approval from Fluent Engineering.
• All required inspections will be completed and documented.
• All required certifications will accompany each shipment.
• The vendor accepts responsibility for the quality, accuracy, and conformance of all products shipped.
• Fluent reserves the right to inspect, reject, or require corrective action for any product found to be nonconforming.

These quality requirements apply to every release issued under a Purchase Order unless specifically waived in writing by Fluent Engineering.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in shipment rejection, vendor corrective action requests, recovery of allowable costs, vendor audits, suspension of future releases, or removal from Fluent’s approved vendor list.

VENDOR QUALITY ASSURANCE

QUALITY CONTROL (QA / QC) REQUIREMENTS

Revision Date: 08 / 03/ 2026

Version: 1.0

1. Purpose

To ensure all products manufactured and supplied meet the engineering drawings, specifications, and dimensional requirements provided with each Purchase Order (PO), all vendors are required to complete and return the required QA/QC documentation before shipment

2. Vendor Requirements

By accepting a Purchase Order, the vendor acknowledges and agrees to the following:

• Manufacture all parts in accordance with the engineering drawings, specifications, and documentation provided.
• Verify that all dimensions, tolerances, materials, and product requirements conform to the approved prints before shipment.
• Complete and sign all required QA/QC inspection documentation, including any inspection sheets or quality verification forms provided with the PO.
• If a QA/QC inspection sheet is not included with the initial PO package, the vendor must still verify compliance with the engineering drawings and provide documentation upon request before shipment.
• Notify Fluent Engineering immediately of any discrepancies, questions, or issues before production or shipment. No deviations are permitted without prior written approval.

3. Shipment Authorization

Products are not authorized for shipment until:

1. All required QA/QC documentation has been completed and signed.

2. The completed documentation has been returned to Fluent for review.

3. Shipment authorization has been provided.

4. Payment Terms

Failure to provide the required QA/QC documentation may result in:

• Shipment delays until documentation is received and approved.
• Withholding of payment until all required quality documentation has been submitted and accepted.
• Cancellation of all or any part of a PO with no liability whatsoever to Fluent.

5. Vendor Certification

Before shipment, vendor shall return this document to Fluent. By signing below, the vendor certifies that:

• The products supplied conform to the engineering drawings and specifications provided.
• All required inspections have been completed.
• The dimensions and quality of the product have been verified prior to shipment.
• Any nonconformances have been disclosed and approved in writing before shipment.

Vendor Name: ____________________________________

Purchase Order #: ____________________________________

Authorized Representative: ____________________________________

Title: ____________________________________

Signature: ____________________________________

Date: ____________________________________