8.4 Control of externally provided processes, products

Hi guys, first time here.

Am trying to document an architectural consultancy firm, they provide just that : consultancy. and they of course do the site inspection, making sure the outcome of the building being developed is as per their design.

Now, there's this another entity: the Developer. this developer is recommended by the client. sometimes. sometimes, the recommendation comes from the consultancy firm.

my issue is, since the outcome of the developer's work affects the consultancy firm's realization of its design, can the processes being done by this developer be considered as 'externally provided processes' of the architectural firm??? It seems pretty obvious at first but as I think more, I kinda get confused because my understanding of 8.4 clause is 'externally provided processes' from an entity ENGAGED BY THE CONSULTANCY FIRM, like, its chosen by the consultancy firm and is working for the consultancy firm.
but since the Developer is not working for the consultancy firm (as it is directly working for the client), then should it still be considered as 'external provider' of the consultancy firm???


I hope I get some help here...am stuck at this point huhuhu.....

 

Ask yourself these questions:

• What is our company's product/service that is intended for or required by our customer?
• Do we need external providers to meet the requirements for the provision of our product/service to our customer?
• Are we accountable to the customer concerning the external provider's output?

If you answered "Yes" on the last two questions, then 8.4 clause should be satisfied by your organization to control the external provider.

 

Now IMHO that's a bit more than consultancy. It will be worth spending some time with your client and establishing what they do and what they want to say about what they do.

Sounds classic 'Interested party' to me. You might want to go back to Clause 4.1 and 4.2 of 9001:2015 and consider the needs and wants of the Developer compared with those of the client (and who are your client's clients if they're not the actual Developer?). Once you've completed this review (and it will take some time and probably a couple of iterations before you're comfortable with the result) you can then look at what controls you need in the QMS and they will vary whether they are a contracted developer or are independent of the consultancy you're dealing with.

Hope this helps.