scope:

General

This Standard specifies minimum requirements for a supplier's Quality Assurance Program-Category 3. The supplier is responsible for planning and developing a program aimed primarily at controlling inspection and test verifications which

(a) assure that products or services conform to specified requirements; and

(b) readily detect and control the disposition of nonconformances.

The supplier shall identify and provide or update the special controls, measuring and test equipment, and skills required to assure product or service quality.

Planning and descriptions are essential for stating what has to be done to complete the activities, listed in Clause 3.4, which verify that products or services meet specified requirements.

This Standard may be applied to products produced for inventory (ie, for future sale to unidentified customers), in which case submittals to customers before the work starts do not apply. However, objective evidence shall be available to show compliance with this Standard, except for those requirements where submittal of data is required before start of the work. This shall be resolved with the customer before purchase.

(a) The requirements of this Standard shall apply to the control of the use of computer software employed in design analysis and in the operation of process, production, inspection, and test equipment.

(b) Computer software that forms part of or is incorporated into products or services shall be subject to final acceptance inspection and testing according to this Standard.

Note: This Standard does not apply, however, to the design, development, coding, and configuration management of computer software. Where this is required, the CSA Q396 Series of Standards on Software Quality Assurance Programs is recommended.