Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Third-party quality assurance
Assurance that the supplier's system will keep producing conforming products: plans, procedures, records, people and equipment verified independently.
01What the service involves
Third-party quality assurance looks behind the product at the system that makes it. QUALITAS TR reviews the supplier's project quality plan, verifies that procedures exist and are followed, checks that inspection and test records are complete and genuine, confirms calibration and personnel qualification, and verifies traceability from material to finished product.
QA activities are planned alongside quality control. Product inspection answers whether this lot is right; quality assurance answers whether the next lot will be.
02Why buyers need it
A conforming batch from a weak system is a matter of luck. Buyers of engineered equipment and long running parts need confidence in the process, especially when the supplier is new, the product is complex or the consequence of failure is high.
Quality assurance also protects the integrity of the documents you receive. Certificates, test reports and inspection records are only useful if they are traceable and truthful.
03Typical applications
- Project quality plan review for capital equipment
- Supplier quality system verification after award
- Verification of supplier inspection records
- Calibration and measuring equipment control
- Traceability verification on critical components
- Quality surveillance during long orders
04Methodology
Requirement mapping
Contract and specification quality requirements listed and mapped to the supplier's quality plan.
Plan review
Quality plan or QCP reviewed for completeness, responsibilities and alignment with the ITP.
Implementation check
Procedures, work instructions and records sampled on the shop floor.
Competence and equipment
Personnel qualifications and calibration status verified for the characteristics that matter.
Report
Findings classified with required actions and verification dates.
05Applicable standards and references
ISO 10005 gives guidance on the content of quality plans and is a useful reference when a contract requires a project specific quality plan. ISO 9001 provides the system framework. Calibration traceability is checked against national or accredited laboratory certificates.
06Deliverables
- Quality plan review comments
- QA surveillance report
- Record verification log
- Calibration and competence check sheet
- Action list with due dates
07Customer benefits
- Confidence that conformity is repeatable
- Trustworthy supplier documentation
- Earlier detection of systemic weaknesses
- Reduced reliance on final inspection
- Evidence for supplier approval decisions
08How QUALITAS TR supports you
We combine QA surveillance with product inspection in the same visit where possible, keeping cost down while giving you both views. Findings are written so the supplier can act on them, which is the fastest route to improvement.