Third Party Inspection Agency for Inspection Services
Third Party Inspection services provided by Inspection Agency – There mainly 3 types of Inspection Agency as the ISO 17020 – Conformity Assessment – Requirements for operation of various Types of Bodies performing inspection.
Type- A – Inspection Agency
The Type-A Inspection Agency to be and independent organization and its personnel (Inspector / Engineers) shall not engage in any activities that may conflict with their independence of judgment and integrity in relation to their inspection activities
Inspection Agency shall not be a part of a legal entity that is engaged in design, manufacture, supply, installation, purchase, ownership, use or maintenance of the items inspected
Type-B – Inspection Agency
Type B inspection bodies are separate sections in an organization and they perform inspections only for their own organization or an organization belonging to the same Group
Type-C- Inspection Agency
The Type -C inspection bodies can perform inspections on both their own organization and external organizations. Inspections carried out by Type C inspection bodies cannot be classified as third-party inspections for the same inspection activities because they do not meet the requirements of independence of operations for Type A inspection bodies.
We the above explanation on Types of Inspection Agency – will help the buyers / suppler / Client to select the Third-Party Inspection Agency.
Type -A- inspection Body can be considered as Third-Party Inspection Agency – as they are independent organization dedicated for Third Party Inspection and the integrity of outcome of Inspection results more reliable.
Third Party Inspection Agency for Inspection Services
Generally when the Buyer / Supplier / Clients – wants to buy the products / services from any organization – But unable to deploy own employee for Full time Inspection or it is not cost effective or Clients / Buyer /Supplier – do not wants to get the rejections of product at the Time delivery / use.
So In this case Buyer /Clients/ Supplier – appoints the Independent organization for Third Party Inspection.
While Appointment of Third-Party Inspection Agency, generally following criteria of selections are followed by the organization
- Past Experience of Inspection Agency
- Market Reputation
- Competency of Resources
- Cost of Third-Party Inspection
- Time suitability (Start of Inspection / Completion of Inspection)
Requirements to perform the Third-Party Inspection
When client / Buyer / Supplier Select the Third-Party Inspection Agency, The Following Inspection they provide to Third Party Inspection Agency (But Not Limited)
- Copy of Work Order
- Drawing of Products
- Inspection Specification
- QAP
- Sampling Plan
Types of Third-Party Inspection Activities
Generally, the Third-Party Inspection are carried out in the Following Stages
- Raw Material Inspection
- In- Process Inspection
- Final Inspection
- Pre-shipment Inspection
- Container Loading Inspection
- Capacity Verification / Factory Inspection
So, while selecting the Third-Party Inspection the client / Buyer / Supplier – Clarify the Types of Inspection required. Based on the requirement, Competency, Time delivery and Cost of Inspection – They Select the Third-Party Inspection agency.
Third Party Inspection Report
Generally, the Third-Party Inspection Agency have their own reporting methods, but some case the Client / Buyer/ Supplier – provide the own standard format in Reporting the Inspection Results.
As a Standard practice the Inspection Report will have the following information (At Least)
- Name of Product
- Reference Drawing/ Specification/ Inspection instruction
- Instruments used
- Record Verification Details
- Inspection Observations
- Photographs of Product at each stage of Inspection