8.3.0 Control Of Nonconforming Product

Purpose

To ensure that nonconforming product is identified and controlled.

Procedure

[enter-your-company-name-here] shall ensure that product which does not conform to product requirements is identified and controlled to prevent its unintended use or delivery.

In dealing with nonconformities, the organisation will, depending upon the circumstances, act in one or more of the following ways;

• take appropriate action to eliminate the detected nonconformity;
• authorise the release or acceptance under concession by a relevant authority and, where applicable, by the customer;
• take action to preclude its original intended use or application;
• take action appropriate to the effects, or potential effects, of the nonconformity when nonconforming product is detected after delivery or use has started.

(This is a generic document that describes how a business may respond to this requirement.  A documented procedure should be established to define the controls and related responsibilities and authorities for dealing with nonconforming product. A specific response must be completed below in the body of this procedure.)

The procedure for witness and hold points is as follows:

• The engineer and/or site supervisor advises personnel and sub-contractors of any pending witness or hold point, or an inspection is either specified by the client or a stipulated in an approved technical procedure.
• Where any process or installed material cannot be inspected usually or by other means the engineer and/or site supervisor ensures that the personnel responsible for the task are suitably qualified and experienced, and that the process is continually monitored.
• The status of in-process testing is recorded on the job sheet.
• Where any notation indicates that there are nonconformities on any section of work or with any procedure, no further activity involving that work can proceed.
• All personnel, sub-contractors and client representatives are advised of this requirement.
• Nonconformities are marked and actioned accordingly.

Authorised personnel, upon final inspection, verify that all required inspections have taken place, are recorded, and ensure that any nonconformities or defects have been documented, rectified, reinspected, re-tested and has passed inspection.

Records of the nature of nonconformities and any subsequent actions taken, including concessions obtained, shall be maintained and stored in accordance with the procedure 4.2.4 – Control of records