Supplier inspection during work execution (DUPRO)

To maintain the proper level of quality at each stage of the production process, some companies offer inspections during product manufacturing, where experts assess the quality of raw materials, components, materials, finished semi-products and products. Inspections are conducted on-site usually after manufacturing 30-40% of all products. DUPRO (During Production Inspection) inspections are intended to check samples for compliance with norms, standards and supply contract conditions, as well as to identify actual and potential defects and non-conformities and their elimination. These actions are more preferable than performing costly testing and making economically impractical changes at subsequent production stages.

Supplier Inspection

Objects of inspection during inspections may be:

1. Technical equipment
2. Personnel (when there are specific requirements for qualifications and experience in the supply contract)
3. Measuring instruments
4. Documentation for manufactured products (design, technological, registration, accounting, etc.)
5. Infrastructure
6. Special processes and operations
7. Direct inspection of manufactured product units
8. Acceptance control and marking

Upon arrival of the RBI concept expert, the Supplier is obligated to provide necessary documents:

• complete set of documentation (design, technological, etc., when available) corresponding to manufactured products;
• testing methodologies at production;
• registration and accounting documents (test logs, folders with protocols, acts and other documents that demonstrate compliance with Customer requirements);
• other documentation as required by the Customer.

The location of inspections and their frequency depend on the significance of specific characteristics and convenience of their conduct. Within the framework of inspections, the following activities may be conducted:

• inspection of setup and first sample;
• control checks or tests conducted by machine operators;
• automatic control or automatic testing;
• control at setup points of the technological process at specific time intervals;
• random control of specific operations conducted by special controllers.

Also during the analysis process, the Supplier's internal measures taken to ensure compliance of manufactured products with established requirements should be checked:

• measures for fulfilling established requirements;
• measures for conducting conformity assessment work;
• measures for controlling fulfillment of established product requirements;
• measures for informing the Customer about changes that may affect fulfillment of established product requirements.

Non-conformities identified during inspection are classified as significant and minor. The first category should include:

• absence of infrastructure elements necessary for manufacturing declared products;
• absence or non-performance of one or several technological equipment means necessary according to technological documentation instructions for the product;
• absence or use of unverified measuring instruments or those with expired verification period (for measuring instruments subject to verification) used for confirming mandatory requirements;
• use of non-certified testing equipment for confirming fulfillment of mandatory requirements;
• absence of objective evidence of validation of processes (operations) classified as "special";
• absence of records (registration and accounting documentation) confirming acceptance control and/or testing of finished products for compliance with mandatory requirements;
• non-compliance of marking with Customer requirements.

When one or several significant non-conformities are present, the inspector compiles an act with remarks for each of them. The Supplier needs to develop a plan for their elimination, coordinate it with the inspector and Customer representatives, and conduct corrective measures within established timeframes, as well as provide results of these measures implementation. The inspector conducts a repeat inspection regarding identified non-conformities.

When minor non-conformities are identified, the acts also indicate the need for corrective measures, but the scope of repeat inspection may be reduced.

RBI concept company possesses unique capabilities to satisfy your requirements in the field of during production inspections. Along with conducting one-time and spot checks, we offer our clients to include inspections in quality assurance and improvement programs. Inspections conducted by RBI concept can also be included in our clients' risk assessment procedures. The vast experience and recognition of our experts will allow your company to protect business interests and avoid additional costs.