Hi Kendall:
> I would take a step back and ask "how does my company
> confirm that the plastic part we ordered meets our specs ?"
> Does incoming inspection check the cert attached with the
> shipment and keep a record that they cross-checked it with
> a component specification or purchase order ? Did the
> supplier sign a contract that specifies all parts type "xyz"
> are made of a specific type of plastic ? Whatever method
> you use internally to satisfy that the part meets your
> specification should satisfy the agency inspector. I would
> check with your incoming inspection dept., purchasing, or
> quality depts.
Excellent!
Whatever you need to do to satisfy yourself that you are using
the correct parts should be sufficient for the third-party
certification house. Anything more, then you are spending
money just to satisfy the certification house without any
return to your organization or to your customers.
Certification houses don't have rules as to how you must
operate your business. But, they need to know your processes
so that they can be satisfied that you are controlling your
sources so that you use the correct materials insofar as
safety is concerned.
(Certification houses "certify" your design, your construction,
and the materials in your product as comprising a "safe"
product complying with the applicable standard. They don't
tell you how to design or build your product, nor do they
tell you what materials you must use in your product. But,
once you have designed your product, they hold you to that
design, since that design has been deemed "safe.")
Certification houses decide whether or not your processes
provide adequate control. They do not tell you what processes
to use. But, if the process is inadequate, then they withdraw
the certification.
Few businesses can operate successfully without full control
over their suppliers. So, it is a rare event when a certification
house should deem a manufacturer's control as inadequate.
Best regards from San Diego,
Rich
-------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Nute Product Safety Engineer
Hewlett-Packard Company Product Regulations Group
AiO Division Tel : +1 619 655 3329
16399 West Bernardo Drive FAX : +1 619 655 4979
San Diego, California 92127 e-mail: [email protected]
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