Procedure A0481: Pulse Check

Procedure for 1st Production Pulse Check

Purpose

• Outlines mandatory testing guidelines for first production output of critical products
• Includes customer's point of view to justify fit and performance of products

Scope

• Mandatory for Footwear and Apparel models or articles identified as critical products
• Adherence to procedure is important to avoid potential quality risks and consumer experience performance

Definitions

• LO: Liaison Office
• HQ: Headquarter
• PDX: Portland
• SDQ/DQ: Senior Director Quality/Director Quality
• SDSO/DSO: Senior Director/Director Sourcing Operations
• SVP/VP: Senior Vice President/Vice President
• MCS: Manufacturing Confirmation Sample
• SS: Sealing Sample
• FTW: Footwear product types
• APP: Apparel product types
• T1: Tier 1 Supplier delivers ready-made, finished products
• PO: Purchase Order
• ACT: Advanced Creation Testing department
• BU: Business Units
• QATM: Quality Assurance Test Matrix
• SCPR: Sourcing Critical Product Review
• TN: Footwear Product Type - Totally New
• NS: Footwear Product Type - New Silhouette

Product Selection

• FTW: All products listed as TN, NS, Sourcing/Brand priority, and/or identified as quality risks during development stage require product review and Pulse Check
• APP: All products listed on SCPR list (SCPR Full only) require product review and Pulse Check

Product Review

• Conducted by T1 to ensure quality of products
• Review includes safety, compliance, fit & comfort, function, durability, color, appearance overview, and T1 internal fit & wear at OCPT

Pulse Check

• Testers provide consumer overview feedback
• Testers are assigned as representatives of consumers to review products from consumer's point of view
• Testers include Sourcing LO, SVP, and VP Sourcing
• Pulse Check includes fit and performance testing, and testing for specific product types (e.g. wear testing and washing cycles for Apparel)

Process Flow

• STEP 1: Send First Production PO list to Quality Product Integrity
• STEP 2: Trigger auto-tagging in Pivot88 and upload product pictures
• STEP 3: Select First Production Model/Article
• STEP 4: Receive request and take First Production Sample from the 1st PO of requested products
• STEP 5: Receive the request and take First Production Sample from the 1st PO of requested products
• STEP 6: Prepare shipment to addresses outlined in Appendix 3
• STEP 7: Share DHL# and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA)
• STEP 8: Receive the First Production Sample and perform Pulse Check
• STEP 9: Provide feedback and test results
• STEP 10: Test results and respective actions taken

Other Important Information

• Confidential products are marked as "CONFIDENTIAL" on the hangtag and orders are only accessible for SVP/VP level
• Photos are not allowed to be taken or shared on social media for confidential products### First Production Pulse Check Procedure
• The procedure is effective from December 7th, 2023, and will be effective until December 7th, 2026.
• If a defect is found on the products, an escalation notification will be immediately triggered to DSO/DQ/T1.
• Products should be immediately improved in production, and a decision made about the orders with already-produced products (e.g., inspect and repair or downgrade to B/C-grades).

Roles and Responsibilities

• SQD/DQ should be put in Cc on every First Production Sample comment report in Smartsheet with a "FAILED" status.
• T1 has the option to request the return of "FAILED" samples from testers when necessary.
• SDSO/DSO with involvement of LO Quality team will make the decision about the orders with already-produced products.
• LO team members responsible for Pulse Check include:
  • Queenie Zhu - LO North Asia
  • Fransergio Serafim - LO Indonesia & India
  • Sanjay Sinha - LO South Asia
  • Anice Leite - LO EMEA
  • Gabriela Wong - LO Americas
  • Jan Best - for all LO

Pulse Check Process

• Testers will provide relevant pictures corresponding to the feedback through Smartsheet.
• T1 will produce new samples with respective improvements and resend to testers within ten (10) days from the date of sample's rejection.
• The process will restart from Step 6 and continue until products pass the test and enter mass production.

Sample Number and Barcode

• The sample number is required to precisely input in accordance with the format (e.g., A-YYMM000X for APP and F-YYMM000X for FTW).
• The barcode will be attached to each of the First Production products as a hangtag.
• Testers will scan the barcode to enter the feedback.

Test Result and Reporting

• The Pulse Check results are tracked and monitored through Smartsheet.
• T1 will ensure proper fit and quality check, according to the defined control standards.
• T1 will take appropriate actions in response to the identified issues and ensure proper storage of samples, including testing reports, over a six-month period.

Follow-up Actions in Case of Failure

• If a First Production Sample is on "FAILED" status, T1 will receive an auto-notification email from Smartsheet and log follow-up actions into Smartsheet.
• T1 will access Smartsheet Test Result pages, enter the "T1 Action Plan", and click "YES" to submit the Action Plan to adidas Testers.
• A revised version of the product has to be retested until the necessary changes result in a "PASS" status.