1. Effective Date : 10/March/2009
Seagate
VMI Standard
Latest Version
Effective Date : 10/March/2009

2. Objective and Expectations
The objective of this document is to set the criteria for voiding warranty at the time of receiving returned disk drive products.
Expectations
Seagate expects Distributors and their channels to follow the acceptance criteria as outlined in this document rigorously. It is important that Distributors and their networks to get familiar with Seagate/Maxtor products. This is to prevent returns with mix boards and product families from tampered units
Seagate expects Distributors and their channels to assist in preventing abused and/or unauthorized modification of Seagate HDD, such as tampered and counterfeit drives, and to prevent them from being returned to Seagate via RMA
Failure to comply or to assist in preventing abuse, neglect, modification of any Seagate products with removed, damaged or tampered labels, will result in VOID warranty or debit charges to you by Seagate
Distributors and Resellers are expected to support Seagate guidelines and intent of this VMI document
These VMI criteria are subject to change and amendment without prior notice. All related VMI criteria questions are to be coordinated through Seagate Customer Service Organization for clarification and response. Contact your Customer Service team to address this directly with Seagate CSO Account Management.

3. Definitions and Workbench Requirements
EHS REQUIREMENTS and RULES:
All Seagate drive handling and ESD protocols shall be followed at all times. If you need training or instruction, please contact Seagate Customer Service team.
All VMI Testing must be conducted in a workbench with an ESD-safe matting.
All VMI operators must wear heel/wrist straps daily as an ESD precaution.
All VMI operators must be trained in safe drive handling protocols including shock prevention.
No food or drink shall be allowed in the inspection area or near workbench as it may cause electrical shock hazard if spilled on the equipment or contaminate the product.

4. Full VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Quick Reference
What to Look for
How to spot the problem ?
VOID if
Accept if 1
Packaging
Loose , abused or crushed Packaging
Packing shows signs of abused, damaged
Packaging comes with extra labels (not from Seagate)
Arrived without approved Seagate packaging such as seashell or ESD bag
Packaging is properly done.
Note: Resellers and Distributors must use ESD bag and packaging. Encourage End Users to use ESD bag
External Drives without ESD bag or original box. As long as packaged properly to prevent damage
Cords and other peripherals are not required to be returned 2
Signs of tampering
Unauthorized modification
Sign of tampering for external product, too light (empty) or with other object inside, external screw seal is broken.
Label/seals
Repaired Component
Returns are Non Seagate or Non Maxtor product
Empty or tampered enclosure. Product is not of any Seagate or Maxtor product families. (Refer to Seagate website for product families)
Broken or damage seal. Clock head or other seal punctured, torn, peeled off, lifted, missing or tampered or imitated
Signs of abuse with repaired or soldered PCBA component
Damage screw threads – signs of attempt of opened or unscrewed 3
Counterfeit product
Top Cover Label
Security label (Maxtor brand)
Baseplate serial nos.
PCBA serial nos.
Top cover label with wrong information, misprinting, wrong fonts etc.
Fake security label when using blue light
Mismatch baseplate serial against the top cover information
Mismatch PCBA serial nos. against the top cover information

5. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Quick Reference
What to Look for
How to spot the problem ?
VOID if
Accept if 4
PCBA
Broken PCBA component
Slight PCBA Component burnt or in the connector side
Burnt PCBA component
Bent PCBA connector pins
Cracked connector
Broken Connector
Damage pins
Damage Connector - missing or broken pins. Connector housing broken and damage with missing portion. Missing or broken pins , for power or data pins both for PATA or SATA
Broken connector with missing parts
Damage connector with missing pins (Data or power pins)
Seagate can accept these.
Note: if the same customers continue to return some units with obvious sign of abusive customer induced damage, please alert Seagate CSO Account Management
4.1
Unathorized modification of component
Severly burned PCBA
Missing component
Corroded and contaminated
PCBA screw damage
There are signs of tampering or modification such as replacing component (de-solder)
Missing component with traces of solder
Corrosion sipped in the PCBA
There are signs that PCBA screws were removed or replaced
Missing component accepted if without traces of solder 5
Baseplate
Signs of abuse or mishandling
Broken baseplate or with missing
piece or portion
Mounting screw head
Screw stuck
Indelible marking on the baseplate and on the top cover
There are signs of misuse or mishandling such a missing part or dented corners cause by G-Force ( Accidental or intentional drop to a hard surface)
Mounting screw head is damage , worn out or with excessive damage screw that cannot be remove
Screw stuck and the screw head are severely damaged and not be able to remove
Marking cannot be erase by gum eraser or the marking are all over the place on the top cover label

6. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Quick Reference
What to Look for
How to spot the problem ?
VOID if
Accept if 5
Baseplate (continuation)
Scratches
Fake baseplate serial nos. (refer to counterfeit)
Deep scratches indicating abusive handling
Superficial scratches due to normal insertion 6
Top cover
Indelible marking
Marking that covers important information
Corrosion , Wet , dented
Security seal missing or voided
Torn Label
Top cover seal
Excessive marking using permanent marker that cannot be erase easily by normal cleaning
Marking that covers the serial nos. and/or part nos.
Signs of customer abuse
Maxtor drive without the label or label were damaged and “VOID” word comes out
Heavy scratches that damage the top cover
Excessive label damage and information cannot be read
Signs of tampering on the seal , peeled off or punctured
Using a non-permanent marking and can erased easily
Superficial or light scratches
Partially torn 7
Gasket
Gasket with spaces or gaps
Visible spaces , gaps or cracked line when looking sideways on the baseplate 8
External Drive
Warranty Seal
USB/Firewire Connector
Labels
Seal is broken or missing
Missing Labels and no part no. or serial no. that can be use for verification
Seal is intact with slight torn
Goes inside the casing

7. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Accept if
Sign of tampering on seal
REJECT
If there are no sign of induces damage (e.g. punctured, torn, peeled off, lifted, missing or imitated etc .) on the base plate seal
Example of Good (photo)
Example of reject ed defect (photo)
sample of damage seal

8. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Accept If
Sign of tampering , screw head damage or missing
REJECT
There are no sign of tampering on the screw : screw strip, screw loose, wrong screw type.
Example of Good (photo)
Example of rejected defect (photo)
no sign of damage, slight scratches is acceptable
screw head damage

9. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Accept If
Unauthorized modification of component
REJECT
Example of good component (photo)
Example of rejected defect (photo)
Sample of good soldering
evidence of soldered component

10. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Reject If
PCB – Burned Component
Reject
Severely burned PCBA　and component burnt near the power connector . (approx. 1” from the power connector).
Example of Rejected defect (photo)
Example of rejected defect (photo)
Burned component
Severely burned PCB

11. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Reject If
PCB- Broken Component
Accept
If there is a sign of abuse or induced damage or any missing component
Example of Accepted defect (photo)
Example of rejected defect (photo)
Missing component
Broken component

12. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Reject If
Connector cracked or broken
Accept
Reject if there is a sign of customer abused such as a connector with missing pieces.
Example of Accepted defect (photo)
Example of rejected defect (photo)
cracked portion of connector

13. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Reject If
PCB Connector – bent pins
Accept
Void warranty if received with missing pins ( data pins or power pins) for both PATA and SATA connector.
Example of Accepted defect (photo)
Example of Rejected defect (photo)
Sample of bent SATA pins
Sample of missing power pins

14. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Accept If
Indelible marking at Top cover label
REJECT
If the marking can be erased by using a gum eraser , otherwise it is considered indelible extraneous marking.
Note: Big company sticker or distributor warranty logo that covers the serial number or part number of the top label is considered VOID Warranty.
Example of accepted defect (photo)
Example of rejected defect (photo)
gum eraser
non-permanent marking can be erased using a gum eraser
excessive indelible marking

15. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Accept If
Base plate screw hole damage
REJECT
If there are no sign of a worn out screw thread or any foreign material inside the screw hole ；
Example of good mounting screw hole (photo)
Example of rejected defect (photo)
screw thread worn out
mounting screw hole with no sign of tampering or damage

16. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Accept If
Counterfeit product
REJECT
Security label have a valid logo when exposed to UV (Black light) and no sign of tampering or residue on the label.
Example of good (photo)
Example of rejected defect (photo)
Hidden “Maxtor” logo is visible when exposed to black light (UV Light)
Counterfeit security label, no “Maxtor” logo under black light (UV light)

17. VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Accept If
Tampered product
REJECT
Baseplate serial no. and Top cover serial nos. are both tallied for both Seagate and Maxtor drives.
Example of good (photo)
Example of rejected (photo)
Topcover SN : 5ND4JPBE
Topcover SN : L3AKQH6G
Baseplate SN : L3ALM8PG
Baseplate SN : 5ND4JPBE
ACCEPT: Baseplate and topcover SN are tally
REJECT: Mismatch SN between topcover and baseplate

18. Thank You