2. Based on AAFES inspection records of at least 300 samples over several lots and realistic time period, the % defective must be less than the assigned AQL for that category of merchandise.

3. No significant customer complaints.

4. No hazardous product recall.

5. No major test failure.

Certification demonstrates AAFES’ trust in a supplier’s process controls and their ability to provide good quality merchandise to AAFES on a consistent basis.

Advantages of certification to AAFES suppliers are recognition of good quality performance resulting in minimal inspections, thereby being able to ship when ready without calling AAFES for an inspection and associated administrative cost savings.

Once a supplier’s quality system is certified, an annual re-audit by AAFES will be conducted. The supplier will also be required to perform an annual mid-term internal audit and provide its results to AAFES. Additionally, any significant manufacturing, procurement or quality system change, to include changes in management, as well as significant quality problems, must be reported to AAFES. Supplier inspection and test results as well as other system documentation to include process control measurement data, corrective and preventive actions must be available to AAFES for review upon request. Criteria for continued certification include acceptable system audits, continuous monitoring of the system by the supplier, critical processes continuously in control and acceptable product inspection and test results by the supplier, i.e., within the quality levels set by AAFES.

A supplier certification may not be renewed because of a failed annual audit, lot failures by AAFES (should AAFES decide to perform verification inspections), or a significant quality problem at the store or customer level.