Seagate
VMI Standard
1
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.
2
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.
3
Full VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Quick Reference
What to Look
for
1
Packaging
How to spot the problem ?
Loose , abused or crushed
Packaging
VOID if
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
2
Signs of
tamperi
ng
Unauthorized
modific
ation
3
Counterfeit
product
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
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
Accept if
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
4
VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Quick Reference
What to
Look
for
4
4.1
5
PCBA
PCBA
Baseplate
How to spot the problem ?
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
VOID if
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)
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)
Signs of abuse or mishandling
Broken baseplate or with
missing
piece or portion
There are signs of misuse or mishandling such a
missing part or dented corners cause by GForce ( Accidental or intentional drop to a
hard surface)
Mounting screw head
Missing component with traces of solder
Corrosion sipped in the PCBA
There are signs that PCBA screws were removed
or replaced
Accept if
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
Missing component accepted if without
traces of solder
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
Screw stuck
Indelible marking on the
baseplate and on the top cover
Marking cannot be erase by gum eraser or the
marking are all over the place on the top
cover label
5
VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Quick Reference
What to Look
for
5
Baseplate
(contin
uation)
How to spot the problem ?
Scratches
VOID if
Accept if
Deep scratches indicating abusive handling
Superficial scratches due to normal
insertion
Excessive marking using permanent marker that
cannot be erase easily by normal cleaning
Marking that covers the serial nos. and/or part nos.
Using a non-permanent marking and
can erased easily
Fake baseplate serial nos.
(refer to counterfeit)
6
Top cover
Indelible marking
Marking that covers important
information
Corrosion , Wet , dented
Security seal missing or voided
Scratches
Torn Label
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
Superficial or light scratches
Partially torn
Top cover seal
Signs of tampering on the seal , peeled off or
punctured
7
Gasket
Gasket with spaces or
Visible spaces , gaps or cracked line when looking
sideways on the baseplate
Warranty Seal
Seal is broken or missing
gaps
8
External
Drive
USB/Firewire Connector
Labels
Seal is intact with slight torn
Goes inside the casing
Missing Labels and no part no. or serial no. that
can be use for verification
6
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
7
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)
no sign of damage, slight
scratches is acceptable
Example of rejected defect (photo)
screw head damage
8
VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Unauthorized
modification of
component
REJECT
Accept If
Example of good component (photo)
Example of rejected defect (photo)
Sample of good soldering
evidence of soldered component
9
VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Reject If
PCB – Burned
Comp
onent
Reject
Severely burned PCBA
power connector).
Example of Rejected defect (photo)
Burned component
and component burnt near the power connector . (approx. 1” from the
Example of rejected defect (photo)
Severely burned PCB
10
VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Default Action
Reject If
PCB- Broken
Comp
onent
Accept
If there is a sign of abuse or induced damage or any missing component
Example of Accepted defect (photo)
Broken component
Example of rejected defect (photo)
Missing component
11
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)
cracked portion of connector
Example of rejected defect (photo)
12
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)
Sample of bent SATA pins
Example of Rejected defect (photo)
Sample of missing power pins
13
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
14
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)
mounting screw hole with no sign of
tampering or damage
Example of rejected defect (photo)
screw thread worn out
15
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)
Hidden “Maxtor” logo is visible when exposed to
black light (UV Light)
Example of rejected defect (photo)
Counterfeit security label, no “Maxtor” logo under
black light (UV light)
16
VMI Check – Acceptance Criteria – Detail Reference
Part
Defaul
t
A
c
ti
o
n
Accept If
Tampered
produ
ct
REJE
C
T
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
17
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