Third Party Quality Inspections

Third-Party Quality Inspections
Tom Kolden, Manager of Auditing & Inspection Services
Element St. Paul

March 15, 2012 Third-Party Quality Inspections

Introduction

Story of my toaster


Point of this story?

It is frustrating to pay for something that
does not have very good quality. In the
case of the toaster, I merely wasted
money.


WHEN QUALITY IS CRITICAL
For products, materials, or
procedures that are critical
for life safety, however, the
ramifications of poor quality
are much more substantial.
Poor quality could cost lives.


Quality is also important for the purposes of
production efficiency and timely completion
of projects.
Poor quality can delay delivery of products
and projects, and can cost money, time and
reputation—it can cost future sales and
possibly even lead to litigation.


IS ISO 9001 ENOUGH?
Companies that have obtained quality
recognition under ISO 9001, for example,
may require that their suppliers also have
quality management system in place that
help assure material traceability and
product quality.


UILDING CODES & QUALITY

uilding codes require building products to be
dependable for life safety. A manufacturer
seeking to obtain 3rd party qualification of a
product as complying with building code
(from ICC Evaluation Service, for example)
must have a suitable quality management
system in place.

THE ROLE OF INSPECTION
Claims that a product or service meets
quality requirements are not always enough.
Frequently, companies that purchase
products and materials require their vendors
submit to ongoing inspections of their quality
system by an independent quality agency.


Organizations like ICC
Evaluation Service, which
evaluates building products and
materials, require independent
inspections of a manufacturer on
an annual or quarterly basis as a
condition of the publication of a
product evaluation.

Other regulatory agencies may also require
ongoing independent inspections as well
to provide verification of quality from
companies in the applicable industries.


Manufacturers or potential clients, for
example in the retail industry, may require
their suppliers and vendors to submit to
ongoing independent quality inspections
as a condition of carrying their product.


MORE REASONS FOR INSPECTION
Even absent any outside requirements, a
business may consider independent
quality inspections to assure customers of
their commitment to quality, which may
provide a competitive advantage in their
industry.


So, if a business requires third-party,
independent Quality inspections, what
should they be looking for?

What qualifications are important?


QUALITIES OF A THIRD-PARTY AGENCY
• Independent inspection expertise
• Expertise relevant to your industry
• Directly involved in testing of the same or
similar types of products or materials
• Experts familiar with industry associations
and standards, who understand your issues
and needs

Of course, even the independent quality
agency must be accredited in order to
demonstrate that their inspection services
meet an international standard, usually
ISO/IEC 17020, “General criteria for the
operation of various types of bodies
performing inspections.”


EXPLAINING ISO/IEC 17020
ISO/IEC 17020 provides the
standards for an inspection
agency’s procedures for
conducting business as an
inspector of quality systems.


ISO/IEC 17020 addresses:
• training requirements
• inspection procedures
• inspection safety
• confidentiality
• organization and management
• customer complaints
• and more.

Independent inspection agencies that are
accredited to ISO/IEC 17020 have met
higher standards for the services they
provide and passed rigorous audits by an
accrediting agency, demonstrating both
compliance and competence.


ONGOING PROOF TESTING
• Inspections sometimes requires ongoing
testing.
• It is prudent for an inspection agency to
also offer testing services.


ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025
Agencies that conduct testing may or may
not be accredited under ISO 17025.
ISO 17025 is similar to 17020, but pertains
to testing services rather than inspection.
Ideally, the laboratory will hold
accreditation to test items identical or
similar to their client’s products.

ACCREDITATION
Many organizations,
including IAS, A2LA, and
others, accredit agencies
to conduct inspection and
testing services to
ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO
17025.

INDEPENDENT IN INDUSTRY
• Quality system governing its practices for
testing and/or inspections
• Proven competence
• Ongoing audits on regular basis
• Impartial and independent
• Strict confidentiality


CONFIDENTIALITY POLICIES
Inspection Agencies must operate under
stringent confidentiality policies and
guidelines in respect to their clients. All
proprietary information is held in the
strictest confidence.


ACCREDITATION ENSURES
• Qualified inspectors
• Independence from outside influences
• Impartiality in assessing data
• Effective inspection
• Greater credibility


QUALITY PROCESS DEVELOPMENT
• A manufacturing or service business must
prepare a quality manual and define its
quality procedures as required.
• Also need to train personnel and
document procedures in practice.
• Demonstrate traceability of process and
materials.

PROCEDURE DEVELOPMENT
An inspection agency can support your
quality system by:
• Assisting with the development of quality
system manual and procedures
• Helping with training and procedure
implementation
• Conducting initial, informal inspection

INITIAL AND ONGOING AUDITS
• Audit procedures and records
• Review past activities
• Spot check records
• Issue non-conformances where necessary

Non-conformances should be viewed as
opportunities for process improvement


FOR THE LONG TERM
• After several audits, non-conformances
usually become minor or rare.
• Process improvements are likely to
improve client’s bottom line due to
reductions in returns, complaints and
rework.


CONFIRMATION OF YOUR QUALITY
Your inspection agency will communicate to
the agency or business with whom you
are working to validate your ongoing
commitment to quality and assure them of
the ongoing quality improvements of your
process, product or material.


A WORD ABOUT US
Element’s worldwide network of
laboratories, engineers, and industry
experts help you identify any significant
issues affecting quality, and provide initial
as well as ongoing testing support.


Element has experts on
staff experienced in
independent inspection
of products and
materials for building
and construction, and a
broad range of other
industries.

ELEMENT ST. PAUL

ccredited laboratory & inspection agency

road range of knowledge and expertise

ctive in many industry groups, associations
and standards committees.

ndependent and impartial

Questions?

Contact me:
Tom Kolden, Manager of Auditing & Inspection Services
Element Materials Technology
662 Cromwell Avenue, St. Paul MN 55114
Direct: 651-659-7340 tom.kolden@element.com


Third Party Quality Inspections

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