A
Th e
Component Manufacturing dverti$er
Don’t Forget! You Saw it in the
Adverti$er
May 2020 #12250 Page #37
The Intrinsic Value of Hands-On Quality Assurance
W
hat makes up a great Quality Assurance Program? As you’ll recall, I listed 9 essential components for good QA in an article last year, “How Does a Fabricator Gain From a 3rd Party Audit?”. It’s no surprise that each one is rooted in the personal, on-site interaction that is the foundation of an audit. As we review the points in that article, let’s highlight and make notes as to the items that would be difficult if not impossible using a remote review. 1. Validation. An audit provides verification of compliance to ANSI/TPI and OSHA regulations and guidelines. — Remote review only sees what the camera looks at. It’s directed by the person holding the camera. How can this be construed as independent? 2. Perspective. The inspection brings another set of eyes on your operations from a person with a broad perspective. The auditor has an advantage that is improved with compliance audits experience in multiple environments and styles. — This expert is no longer at your plant facility. The eyes looking are guided by the prism of the camera and clouded by the pixelated video or photographs. 3. Risk control. The process can detect potential issues or problems that can escalate and lead to losses for the component manufacturer. — The only problems detected will be the ones in the view finder. The remote review only analyzes data that is collected. 4. Objectivity. An auditor’s basis is a standard of quality. It is a series of best practices that are shared among the auditor’s group of clienteles. This sharing strengthens each individual’s quality program. — In the remote review, everyone’s data is collected, compiled, and homogenized by a computer program to create an exact model. By definition, it will lack objectivity and impartiality. 5. Knowledge base. An auditor’s knowledge of the codes and requirements are to a level of detail that is not reasonably obtainable for a component manufacturing manager. — While this may also be true with remote review, it lacks the relationship of auditor and client. It’s like that college level CHEM101 class with 350 other students. You were kind of on your own.
Continued next page
PHONE: 800-289-5627
Read/Subscribe online at www.componentadvertiser.com
FAX: 800-524-4982