The different stages and areas where inspection may take place in a manufacturing process
Despite advances in technology used in manufacturing processes, there is still no substitute for quality assessment of the resulting products of the manufacturing process. By employing an independent and objective inspection and testing, problems can be identified and prevented at source, prior to shipment or during production.
Customers are often located thousands of miles away from their product source. They often need to verify that their interests are being well protected and that quality products are being manufactured.
There is thus a critical need to monitor the entire quality related process at all stages from development through the manufacturing process to delivery. The inspection areas covered typically include:
• On-Site Quality Audit Services
• Product Development and Evaluation
• Specification Recommendation
• Factory Evaluation
• Pre-Production Inspection
• During Production Inspection
• Final Random Pre-shipment Inspection
• Supervision of Loading
• Production and Delivery Monitoring
The role of inspection is to ensure “Quality Assurance” i.e.
a) an appropriate infrastructure or “quality system” encompassing the Procedures,
Processes, and Resources
b) the systematic actions necessary to ensure adequate confidence that a product (or service) will satisfy given requirements for “Quality”
The stages involved in quality inspection may vary from organisation to organisation, but typically include:
1. Ensuring products are developed correctly
2. Identifying managerial responsibilities
3. Providing Standards of Procedure (SOPs) for production and control
4. Organizing supply and use of correct starting materials
5. Defining controls for all stages of manufacture and packaging
6. Ensuring finished product correctly processed and checked before release
7. Ensuring products are released after review by authorized person
8. Providing storage and distribution
9. Organizing self-inspection
Basic tasks involved in the quality assessment process include:
1. Checking whether ingredients are of the required purity
2. Checking whether proper storage containers are used
3. Checking correct labelling of finished products
4. Release of batches by the authorized person
5. Retained samples of starting materials and products
6. Establish QC procedures
7. Environmental monitoring