ELLTRON ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS:
ISO9000 |
ISO14000 |
OHSAS |
SA8000 |
Defect Classification |
Inspection Criteria
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing international standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electro technical standardization. ISO9001 has the following frame:
- Scope
- General
This International Standard specifies requirements for a quality management system where an organization
a) Needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide product that meets client and applicable regulatory requirements, and
b) Aims to enhance client satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including process for continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to client and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Application
All requirements of this International Standard are generic and are intended to be applicable to all organizations, regardless of type, size and product provided. Where any requirement(s) of this International Standard cannot be applied due to the nature of an organization and its product, this can be considered for exclusion.
- Normative reference
The following normative document contains provisions, which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this Technical Specification.
- Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this International Standard, the terms and definitions given in ISO 9000 apply.
- Quality management system
The organization shall establish, document, implement and maintain a quality management system and continually improve its effectiveness in accordance with the requirements of this International Standard.
- General requirements
- Documentation requirements
The organization shall establish and maintain a quality manual
- Management responsibility
Top management shall provide evidence of its commitment to the development and implementation of the quality management system and continually improving its effectiveness by
- Management commitment
- Client focus
- Quality policy
- Planning
Top management shall ensure that quality objectives, including those needed to meet requirements for product, are established at relevant functions and levels within the organization. The quality objectives shall be measurable and consistent with the quality policy.
- Responsibility, authority and communication
Top management shall ensure that responsibilities and authorities are defined and communicated within the organization.
- Management review
Top management shall review the organization's quality management system, at planned intervals, to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness. This review shall include assessing opportunities for improvement and the need for changes to the quality management system, including the quality policy and quality objectives.
- Resource management
The organization shall determine and provide the resources needed
a) to implement and maintain the quality management system and continually improve its effectiveness, and
b) to enhance client satisfaction by meeting client requirements.
- Provision of resources
- Human resources
- Infrastructure
- Work environment
- Product realization
The organization shall plan and develop the process needed for product realization. Planning of product realization shall be consistent with the requirements of the other process of the quality management system.
- Planning of product realization
- Client-related process
- Design and development
- Purchasing
- Production and service provision
- Control of monitoring and measuring devices
- Measurement, analysis and improvement
The organization shall plan and implement the monitoring, measurement, analysis and improvement process needed
a) to demonstrate conformity of the product,
b) to ensure conformity of the quality management system, and
c) to continually improve the effectiveness of the quality management system.
This shall include determination of applicable methods, including statistical techniques, and the extent of their use..
- General
- Monitoring and measurement
- Control of nonconforming product
- Analysis of data
- Improvement
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), based in Geneva, is one of the key international voluntary standards bodies. Standards developed by ISO are available to the 140 or so member countries to adopt as they see fit. Although ISO standards are voluntary, many are eventually cited in legislation.
ISO has a rigorous process for standards development. When a new standard is proposed, it must be approved either by a technical committee or by the Technical Management Board of ISO. Once a technical committee is established, it may establish subcommittees and working groups to carry out the work.
There are currently around 2,850 active technical committees, sub-committees and working groups, made up of qualified representatives from around the world. To date, more than 12,000 ISO standards have been published. ISO has a general rule that all standards be reviewed at least every five years.
The ISO 14000 family
The ISO 14000 family of environmental management and auditing standards is not concerned with environmental performance. This distinction is fundamental. Rather than dealing with measures of performance such as energy efficiency and emissions, a management standard establishes what the organization needs to do in order to meet its goals.
The ISO 14000 family contains more than 20 standards, guides, and other publications, dealing with a variety of topics such as forest management and life-cycle assessment. The following is a sample of the ISO 14000 series.
ISO 14001
Environmental Management Systems - Specification With Guidance for Use
ISO 14004
Environmental Management Systems - General Guidelines on Principles, Systems and Supporting Techniques
ISO 14010
Guidelines for Environmental Auditing - General Principles of Environmental Auditing
ISO 14011
Guidelines for Environmental Auditing - Audit procedures Part 1: Auditing of Environmental Management System
ISO 14012
Guidelines for Environmental Auditing - Qualification Criteria for Environmental Auditors
The ISO 14001 standard
It is a fundamental principle of ISO 14001, which governs environmental management systems, that organizations set their own goals, based on whatever considerations they wish to include, such as the demands of clients, regulators, communities, lenders or environmental groups. The ISO 14001 standard provides a framework within which to develop plans to meet those targets, and to produce information about whether or not the targets are met.
By the end of 2001, nearly 32,000 organizations worldwide had received ISO 14001 accreditation.
An important benefit of adopting ISO 14001 is to give stakeholders the reassurance they need that the organization's environmental claims are valid.
The ISO 14001 standard is intended to be flexible, and to be of value in a wide variety of situations. However, it is applicable most readily to large companies that already have a formal management system in place, and which have the expertise and resources to incorporate environmental issues into that system.
However, the principles have been designed to apply also to smaller businesses, and to non-business organizations.
In general, conformance with one of the international standards can lead to the implementation of other standards. For example, once an organization has implemented ISO 14001, it is easier for it to satisfy the requirements of EMAS (the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme).
Leading organizations are formalizing their Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) programs into management systems (MSs). OHSAS 18001 is a voluntary document that establishes the requirements for an effective OH&S MS. This document was developed to help companies control OH&S risks and improve overall performance. An OHSAS 18001 management system is a statement to your employees, clients, suppliers, stakeholders and community that your company has done everything in its power to reduce health and safety risks. OHSAS 18001 is designed to be compatible with other management systems standards and specifications such as ISO 9001 (Quality), and ISO 14001 (Environment). Therefore choosing an integrated management system provides excellent value.
Benefits of compliance with OHSAS 18001:
Eliminate or minimize risk to employees and other interested parties who may be exposed to OH&S risks.
Reduce downtime and associated costs.
Demonstrate an innovative and forward thinking approach.
Increase access to new clients and business partners.
Manage health and safety risks effectively, now and in the future.
SA 8000, which is the first standard governing employees' working condition under Social Accountability International (SAI), provides a framework for independent assessment by a third party certification body, as in the cases of ISO 9000 quality management system and ISO 14000 environmental management system.
It is thus our great concern to refer to SA 8000 set of social accountability standards and guidance document to achieve your Factory Assessment requirements.
The Social Accountability Standards deal with the following criteria:
Child labour: the company shall not support the use of child labour which is defined by Chinese law as the work of "any person less than 16 years of age ".
Forced Labour: the company shall not support the use of "Forced or Bonded Labour"
Health and Safety: the company shall provide to its employees a safe and healthy working environment. People should not have to work in an environment which is potentially harmful to their health.
Freedom of Association and Right to collective Bargaining: "the company shall respect the right of all personnel to form and join trade unions of their choice and to bargain collectively" (SAI)
Discrimination: "the company shall not engage in or support discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, or political affiliation" (SAI)
Disciplinary practices: "the company shall not engage in or support the use of corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion, and verbal abuse"(SAI)
Working hours: "the company shall comply with applicable laws and industry standards on working hours" (SAI)
Compensation: "the company shall ensure that wages paid for a standard working week shall meet at least legal or industry minimum standards" (SAI)
Management systems: "top management shall define the company's policy for social accountability and labour conditions to ensure that it includes a commitment to conform to all requirements of this standard and national and other applicable law" (SAI)
Defects detected during visual inspection are classified into three categories as follows:
Critical Defect – corresponds to a defect likely to be unsafe for consumers. Our default Critical Defect AQL is 0.
Major Defect – results in function failures or reduction of product usability or obvious appearance faults which may affect the salability of the product. Our default Major Defect AQL is 2.5.
Minor Defect – doesn’t reduce the usability or function of the product, but is beyond the defined quality standard and may reduce the salability of the product. Our default Minor Defect AQL is 4.0.
You could also specify what points are Minor, Major or Critical in your tailor-made checklist.
Suggestion on AQL Levels
| Classification |
High Valued Products |
Low-medium Valued Products |
| Critical Defects |
0 |
0 |
| Major Defects |
AQL1.0/1.5 |
AQL2.5 |
| Minor Defects |
AQL2.5/4.0 |
AQL4.0 |
Understanding AQL
How do I determine the right sample size and acceptance number?
As an example, in an inspection of a 3,500 unit lot, with an Acceptable Quality Level of II, Table A indicates that sample size code letter should be “L”. Table B indicates that the sampling size of “L” should be 200 units. For an AQL of 2.5, the corresponding acceptance number is 10.
What does this mean in concrete terms?
If the number of defective units is higher than 10, the lot should be rejected. It also means that, if the lot passes inspection, there is a 95% chance of having less than 5% (10 in this example) defects in the whole inspected lot.
What should I do with defective or discarded lots?
Defective items found as part of 100% inspection can be discarded, repaired or replaced. You may opt to buy the discarded lot at a discount for resale at a lower price.
Elltrons on-site checking includes the following criteria:
- Quantity status
- Product appearance
- Performance & function tests
- Workmanship
- Assembly
- Accessories
- Material
- Color
- Logo
- Size & measurements
- Weight
- Assortment
- Carton status
- Bar code scan test
- Packing & marking
- Shipping marks
- Factory warehouse
- Container inspection
Apart from the above aspects, Elltron can carry out tailor-made inspection program according to your criteria. A comprehensive report with photographic evidence is provided within 24hrs after inspection, detailing the Elltrons inspector's findings and outcome.