Customer flowdowns are requirements from a customer that are passed to another party or process as part of fulfilling an order, contract, program, or specification. In manufacturing, they commonly define obligations that must be applied by internal teams, suppliers, subcontractors, or special processors.
Flowdowns may appear in purchase orders, contracts, quality clauses, drawings, specifications, work instructions, inspection requirements, or supplier terms. They can cover items such as material controls, documentation, traceability, inspection records, approved sources, training or qualification requirements, and handling of customer or technical data.
The term is common in aerospace, defense, and other regulated or quality-sensitive supply chains. A customer flowdown is not simply a preference or informal instruction; it is a requirement that must be identified, communicated, and controlled where it applies. It is also different from an internal procedure, although an internal procedure may be used to implement the flowed-down requirement.