Engineering & Change Management template
Supplier Change Notification (SCN) Template: Build & Export Free
Notify a customer of a change on your end as a supplier (what's changing, the impact and the timeline), then export a print-ready SCN as a PDF, free to start.
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A live Supplier Change Notification rendered from this template, and yours opens the same way, in your brand, and exports to a clean PDF.
Overview
What is a supplier change notification?
A supplier change notification (SCN) is the formal notice a supplier sends its customer when something changes about a product, material or process it supplies. It lets the customer assess the change, decide whether re-qualification is needed, and approve or object before the change takes effect on the parts they receive.
A good SCN is specific and gives the customer time. It identifies the affected items by part number, describes and classifies the change, assesses the impact, provides samples and qualification data where relevant, states the effectivity and last-order dates, and makes clear what action the customer needs to take. It's closely related to a product change notification. The difference is mainly the direction and the emphasis on the supplier relationship.
SCNs are standard wherever customers control their supply base: automotive, electronics, aerospace and regulated manufacturing. Many customers require suppliers to notify them of any change through an SCN and to obtain approval before implementing it (more below).
The fields
What to include in a supplier change notification
An SCN a customer can approve is specific and complete. These are the fields they expect, and all of them are in the template.
SCN number and date
A unique notification number and issue date for tracking and reference.
Supplier and customer
The supplier issuing the notice and the customer it's issued to.
Affected items
The affected products, materials or part numbers the change applies to.
Description of change
A clear description of what is changing on the supplier's side.
Type and reason
The type of change (design, process, material, sub-supplier, site) and why it's being made.
Classification and impact
Whether the change is major or minor and how it could affect the customer's product or qualification.
Effectivity and last-order dates
When the change takes effect and the last date to order the current version.
Samples and qualification
Availability of samples and any qualification, testing or reliability data supporting the change.
Customer action requested
What the customer must do (acknowledge, approve, re-qualify) and by when.
Contact
Who to contact with questions or to arrange samples and approval.
Step by step
How to write a supplier change notification
Four passes take you from a blank template to a customer-ready SCN.
Identify the change and affected items
Add the SCN number and date, the supplier and customer, the affected part numbers, and a clear description of the change and its reason.
Classify and assess impact
State the type of change and classify it (major/minor), and assess how it could affect the customer's product and qualification.
Set the timeline and customer action
Give the effectivity and last-order dates, the samples and qualification data available, and the action and approval you need from the customer.
Add contact and export
Add the contact for questions and approval, then export a print-ready PDF to send to the customer.
Which one
SCN vs. PCN
Both notify a customer of a change; the difference is mainly the direction and emphasis.
Supplier Change Notification
A supplier's notice to its customer of a change on the supplier's end, often requiring the customer's approval before it's implemented.
Use when you, as a supplier, must notify and get approval from a customer.
Product Change Notice
A manufacturer's notice to its customers that a product they buy is changing: classification, impact, timeline and requested action.
Use to notify your customers of a change to a product you make.
See the Product Change Notice template →Get it right
Common mistakes to avoid
- Too little notice for the customer to assess and approve the change.
- An unclear change type or classification.
- No impact assessment on the customer's product or qualification.
- No samples or qualification data to support approval.
- Missing effectivity or last-order dates.
- Not stating clearly what action and approval the customer must give.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is a supplier change notification?
A supplier change notification (SCN) is a formal notice a supplier sends its customer when a supplied product, material or process is changing. It lets the customer assess the change, decide whether re-qualification is needed, and approve it before the change reaches the parts they buy.
What's the difference between an SCN and a PCN?
They're closely related and often used interchangeably. A supplier change notification emphasizes a supplier notifying a specific customer and usually seeking approval; a product change notification is typically a manufacturer notifying its customer base of a change to a product. Both communicate a change, its impact and timeline.
What should a supplier change notification include?
An SCN number and date, the supplier and customer, the affected items, the description, type and reason for the change, its classification and impact, effectivity and last-order dates, samples and qualification data, the customer action requested, and a contact. This template includes all of them.
Who sends a supplier change notification?
A supplier sends it to its customer, often because the customer's quality agreement requires notification and approval of any change to a supplied product or process before it's implemented. It keeps the customer in control of changes to their supply base.
How much notice should a supplier change notification give?
Enough for the customer to assess the change, re-qualify if needed, and place a last-time buy of the current version if necessary. The required notice period is usually set by the customer's quality agreement or the applicable industry standard, with major changes needing more lead time.
Related templates
Documents that go with a Supplier Change Notification
Product Change Notice (PCN)
Communicates an upcoming change to an existing product, material, process, specification, manufacturing location or other product characteristic.
Open template →Engineering Change Notice (ECN)
Communicates an approved engineering change, affected items, before-and-after details, effectivity, implementation and release information.
Open template →Engineering Change Request (ECR)
Proposes and evaluates a potential engineering change before formal approval, including rationale, affected items, impact and requested action.
Open template →Build your Supplier Change Notification now
Fill in the fields, apply your brand, and export a clean PDF. Free to start.
Note: This template gives you a structured starting point for a supplier change notification. You remain responsible for the accuracy of the change details, classification, impact and dates, and for meeting your customers' notification and approval requirements before implementing the change.