1. Quality Standards Manual
N Brown Home & Gifts
Quality Standards Manual
Setting excellence as standard
2016

2. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
Content
1. Introduction
1.1 Quality Manual overview /purpose
1.2Content
1.3Practice/ways of working
2. Home and Gift
2.1 Product mix
2.2 Brands/ categories
3. Packaging
Sealing
4.1 The process
5. Testing and continuity
6. Quality control
6.1 Inspection requirements - Supplier
6.2 Inspection processes – N Brown
6.3 Audits
7. Notification
7.1 Manufacture
7.2 Production
7.3 Pre shipment inspection
7.4 Supplier acceptance
7.5 Supplier confirmation of acceptance
Services
9. QA Contacts

3. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
1. Introduction
1.1 Quality Manual Overview/Purpose To support our determination for continuous product improvement we outline or required standards, to ensure all N Brown Home and Gift QA and suppliers have clear understanding to enable us to meet our customers expectations. The standards must be fully understood, accepted and adhered to. 1.2 Content The standards within this report will address our product requirements , QA process and company wide procedure. 1.3 Practice/ ways of working This document has been created as a reference tool for all N Brown QA Home and Gift suppliers. The document will be reassessed on a regular basis and reissued when necessary. All products will be sealed and referenced against the standards set within this document. Failure to adhere to the standards may result is sample rejection and supplier penalties.

4. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
2.1 Product mix The Product mix within the Home and Gift department is diverse and offers our customers exceptional choice. The quality of all products must equal that diversity to reflect upon the value, purpose and product life-cycle expectations. All items must meet our minimum standard requirements. 2.2 Brands/ categories N brown Home and Gift brands are divided into quality categories. Grade 1 –Premier brands that demonstrate exceptional quality, style and performance, well know brands Grade 2 – Competitive quality items that offer Excellent quality, latest style, technologies and USP’s Grade 3 –Everyday lifestyle brands that provide essential quality and performance

5. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
3. Packaging
Perception of quality is equally as important to manufacturing quality. Suppliers working with N Brown must ensure all products are visually representative of our standards and exceed our customers expectations.
The N Brown Packaging Manuals is to be read, understood and followed to achieve product continuity and packaging best practices. Please familiarise yourself with the SHIPPING CARTON RULES.
If packaging is not sent into our warehouse as per our requirements, the stock will be rejected or a penalty charge implemented.
(If any stock requires unplanned rework it will be actioned internally and the supplier charged the necessary fee.)
Please refer to our JDW packaging manual. Any queries please speak to your QA technologist

6. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
Sealing Process
After selection, the buyers’ assistant will request the initial packaging / QC sample where applicable. THE QC SAMPLE MUST BE A FULL WORKING MODEL, AS PRODUCTION WILL BE.
The relevant QA/Pkg technologist will appraise the packaging and assess the product quality taking into consideration the following factors:
• Product potential to cause injury, be mis-used or fail during normal use
• Supplier performance and expertise in product area
The QA/Pkg Technologist will complete a report detailing the product specifics. Certification will be requested via the Buyers’ Assistant and must be supplied before the product can be passed
CERTIFICATION MUST NOT BE MORE THAN 2 YEARS OLD.
The report will fall into one of three categories:
• PASS – The item is acceptable
• QUALIFIED – The item has conditions attached that must be met before delivery. Usually such conditions will have to be confirmed in writing before the item is accepted.
• FAIL – The item is unacceptable and a second sample is required
The sealed sample is sent to our warehouse where is it held and checked against incoming deliveries ( dependent on product type)
DELIVERIES MUST NOT BE SUBMITTED UNTIL QA APPROVAL HAS BEEN RECEIVED
ALL NON-CONFORMITIES, INCLUDING TEST CERT FAILURE WILL BE DEBITED TO SUPPLIERS ACCOUNT.

7. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
5. Testing and continuity
Product Testing is a fundamental requirement and properties to ensure our products are fit for purpose and perform to our product promises.
Suppliers must be aware of all product testing requirements. Cost of testing must be planned and discussed with buying teams during product development and costing stages.
We will NOT accept any product that has failed a standard test as stated in the SGS manual or any product that has not been tested in accordance to performance and purpose.
It is within N Browns right to reject a shipment if products are found to fail performance and purpose after delivery of production.
N Brown in collaboration with SGS have created a testing standards manual that our products must adhere to and be tested against.
Please note all test certificates must be under 2 years old
The SGS testing standard manual can be located on the PLM system. Please direct any queries to N Brown QA team.
All test reports regardless of testing result are to be submitted to the relevant N Brown QA, before product is approved.

8. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
6. Quality control
6.1 Inspection requirements - Supplier
The requirements listed below must be completed by the suppliers quality control teams before submitting samples for approval to JDW QA technologist or approving bulk production. 1
Have all Documents been received ( waste, weights, product spec,) 2
DOC received 3
Testing received 4
Are all labels present and in correct positioning 5
Does the product have size, batch number, supplier address, composition 6
Warning logos and text present 7
Instructions correct 8
Correct artwork and text on outer product box 9
Drop test approval received 10
Correct packaging in inner carton 11
Correct packaging in outer carton 12 13
Is the weight of the sample the same as the initial samples 14
Have all risk assessments taken place 15
Have all red seal sample amends been made 16
Have all gold seal sample amends been made 17
Is an audit document available 18
Has the supplier sent a Pre shipment document

9. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
6. Quality control
6.2 Inspection requirements – JDW QC ( at warehouse)
Items will be inspected at delivery point ; includes packaging, labelling and product
Any items that do not follow our requirements will be rejected and put on hold ready for internal reworked at the cost of the supplier
All charges will be made via our internal debit system by our QC team.
Do not book any item in with the warehouse if they have not been sealed and approved by a QA technologist.
Contact your QA technologist for further details

10. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
6. Quality control
6.3 Audits
If you are a new Supplier an Audit by JDW QA will be conducted. This will be arrange by your QA technologist
A copy of our requirements can be sent over prior to the audit for review. This will be sent over by your QA technologist. We need to be satisfied that as a supplier can conform to our requirements.
No sign off can be granted to new suppliers if the Audit fails. The outcome of the audit will be discussed internally before confirmation is provided back to you the supplier.
Audits will also be conducted with current suppliers on an periodical basis. If you have any major points highlighted on the audit the sale of items through JDW will be put on hold until all caps are closed and the audit result is at an acceptable level.

11. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
7. Notification
7.1 Manufacturing issues For best practice any issues foreseen or experienced during the development and sampling of a product must be communicated to N Brown QA and buying teams to assess the problem and present a solution. This will help improve the sealing time, quality of our product and ease of manufacture. 7.2 Production issues All issues experienced on production line must be communicated to the N Brown QA, Buying and Merchandise teams prior to production continuing or shipping. This includes design and manufacturing faults, staffing issues, delays to shipment and shipment shortages. 7.3 Pre shipment inspection preshipment inspection reports must be sent to your QA technologist at JDW before shipping goods if you are a stock supplier. These documents need to be sent via to your relevant technologist Supplier confirmation of acceptance Please Sign and to your relevant technologist for safe keeping. The document is at the back of this pack. 7.5 Updates Updates to this manual will be highlighted to all N Brown suppliers accordingly.

12. Service Process requirements
8. Internal and external
Spares requirements
Swatches requirements
Your QA technologist will be InTouch regarding requirements for the above services
These services must have been discussed with yourself and your JDW contacts

13. QA Contacts 9. Technologists and relevant departments DEPARTMENT QA
Home Textiles
Alison Sheehy ext: 2159
Kitchen & Home Décor
Marie Ramsbottom ext: 2176
Furniture
Paul Roberts ext: 1673
Outdoor Living & Xmas
Paul Lacy ext: 1881
Nursery & Leisure
Mike Power ext: 2413
Technology & Large Appliances
Antony Hockwart ext: 2334
Small Electricals
Chris Simpson ext: 2145
Toys
Kathryn Hirst ext: 2837
Gifting
Simone Kirsch ext: 2732
Jewellery & Beauty
Kathy Li ext: 1897

14. N Brown Home and Gifts– Quality standards
Notification of acceptance
To be completed by Supplier
Supplier / Agent:
Name:
Position:
Date:
I have read and understood the N Brown QA Home and Gifts– Quality standards in its entirety and accept of the conditions and requirements stated.
To be completed by Supplier
Signature:
Please submit 1 copy to the QA Manager