API Specification Q1 Tenth Edition 5.5.3 Verification of Purchased Products, Components or Activities

5.5.3.1 General

The organization shall maintain a documented procedure defining the verification necessary for determining purchased products, components or activities conform to specified purchase requirements.

5.5.3.2 Critical Purchases

For critical products, components or activities, the organization’s procedure for verification shall address:
a) review of the organization’s required documentation from the supplier;
b) verification that the applicable versions were used when specifications, drawings, process requirements, inspection instructions, traceability requirements, and other relevant technical data are specified
c) inspection, testing and/or verification requirements including methods, frequency, and responsible party. The organization shall determine the methods, frequency, and responsible party based on identified risk and supplier quality performance.

5.5.3.3 Noncritical Purchases

Noncritical products, components or activities shall be verified in accordance with the organization’s documented procedure.

5.5.3.4 Records

Records of verification activities and evidence of conformity to specified requirements shall be maintained.

The verification of purchased products, components, or activities is a critical aspect of quality management systems in organizations, including those operating in the oil and gas industry. Verification ensures that purchased products, components, or activities meet specified quality standards and conform to the organization’s requirements. This helps prevent the acceptance of non-conforming items, reducing the risk of defects, failures, and customer dissatisfaction. Verification ensures that purchased items comply with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and contractual obligations. This helps organizations avoid regulatory violations, legal liabilities, and financial penalties associated with non-compliance. Verification helps identify and mitigate risks associated with purchased items, such as performance issues, safety hazards, reliability concerns, and supply chain disruptions. By verifying the quality and suitability of purchased items, organizations can reduce the likelihood of adverse consequences. Verification helps ensure that purchased items meet customer expectations for quality, performance, and reliability. This enhances customer satisfaction, loyalty, and trust in the organization’s products and services. Verification helps maintain the integrity of products and processes throughout the supply chain. By verifying the quality and conformance of purchased items, organizations can safeguard product integrity and maintain consistency in product performance and reliability. Verification provides insights into supplier performance and capabilities. By evaluating suppliers’ ability to consistently deliver quality products and services, organizations can make informed decisions about supplier selection, development, and relationship management. Verification processes provide valuable feedback for continuous improvement initiatives. By analyzing verification results, identifying trends, and addressing root causes of non-conformances, organizations can drive improvements in product quality, supplier performance, and overall operational effectiveness.

The verification of purchased products, components, or activities is essential for ensuring product quality, regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, risk management, and continuous improvement in organizations operating in the oil and gas industry. It is a fundamental aspect of effective quality management systems and contributes to the overall success and reputation of the organization. API Q1 includes requirements for the verification of purchased products, components, or activities to ensure they meet specified requirements and conform to quality standards. Here’s an overview of the verification process as outlined in API Q1:

1. Verification Planning: Organizations must establish and implement a verification plan for purchased products, components, or activities. This plan outlines the methods, criteria, and frequency of verification activities based on the criticality, complexity, and risk associated with the purchased items or activities.
2. Acceptance Criteria: Clear acceptance criteria must be established for verifying purchased products, components, or activities. These criteria define the standards, specifications, and requirements that purchased items must meet to be accepted by the organization.
3. Verification Methods: API Q1 allows for various verification methods, including inspection, testing, auditing, certification, and supplier evaluations. The selection of verification methods depends on factors such as product complexity, criticality, and regulatory requirements.
4. Supplier Qualification: Organizations are required to qualify suppliers to ensure their ability to provide products, components, or activities that meet specified requirements. Supplier qualification may include assessing capabilities, quality management systems, performance history, and compliance with industry standards.
5. Incoming Inspection and Testing: Incoming inspection and testing are essential verification activities to assess the quality, conformance, and suitability of purchased products, components, or activities. This may involve visual inspection, dimensional inspection, material testing, functional testing, and other relevant tests as per the verification plan.
6. Traceability and Documentation: API Q1 emphasizes the importance of traceability and documentation throughout the verification process. Organizations must maintain records of verification activities, including inspection reports, test results, certificates of compliance, and other relevant documentation to demonstrate product conformance and compliance with requirements.
7. Non-Conformances and Corrective Actions: In case of non-conforming purchased products, components, or activities, API Q1 requires organizations to implement corrective actions to address root causes, prevent recurrence, and ensure product conformity. Corrective actions may include rework, replacement, supplier corrective action requests (SCARs), or other appropriate measures.
8. Monitoring and Measurement: Organizations are required to monitor and measure the effectiveness of the verification process to ensure it achieves its intended objectives. This may involve performance metrics, trend analysis, customer feedback, and management reviews to continually improve the verification process.

By implementing these verification requirements outlined in API Q1, organizations can ensure that purchased products, components, or activities consistently meet specified requirements, conform to quality standards, and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the organization’s quality management system.

The organization shall maintain a documented procedure defining the verification necessary for determining purchased products, components or activities conform to specified purchase requirements.

Establishing a documented procedure for verifying purchased products, components, or activities is essential for several reasons:

1. Consistency: A documented procedure ensures that verification activities are carried out consistently across different purchases, projects, and personnel within the organization. Consistency helps minimize errors, reduce variability, and enhance the reliability of verification outcomes.
2. Compliance: A documented procedure ensures that verification activities align with regulatory requirements, industry standards, customer specifications, and organizational policies. Compliance with established procedures helps demonstrate adherence to quality management system requirements and regulatory standards.
3. Clarity and Transparency: A documented procedure provides clear guidance and instructions for personnel involved in verification activities. This clarity promotes understanding, transparency, and accountability in the verification process, ensuring that everyone follows the same standardized approach.
4. Risk Management: A documented procedure helps identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with purchased products, components, or activities. By establishing clear verification criteria and methods, organizations can identify potential risks early in the procurement process and take appropriate measures to mitigate them.
5. Continuous Improvement: A documented procedure provides a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of verification activities and identifying opportunities for improvement. By documenting verification results, analyzing trends, and implementing corrective actions, organizations can continually improve their verification processes over time.

To establish a documented procedure for verifying purchased products, components, or activities, organizations can follow these steps:

1. Define the Scope: Clearly define the scope of the verification procedure, including the types of purchases covered, the verification methods to be used, and the personnel responsible for carrying out verification activities.
2. Gather Requirements: Identify the requirements for verification based on organizational policies, regulatory standards, customer specifications, and industry best practices. Consider factors such as product complexity, criticality, and risk when determining verification requirements.
3. Develop the Procedure: Document the step-by-step process for conducting verification activities, including planning, execution, documentation, and follow-up actions. Define roles and responsibilities, verification methods, acceptance criteria, documentation requirements, and non-conformance management procedures.
4. Review and Approval: Review the draft procedure with relevant stakeholders, including quality assurance personnel, purchasing managers, supplier representatives, and other key stakeholders. Incorporate feedback and revisions as needed to ensure clarity, accuracy, and alignment with organizational requirements.
5. Training and Implementation: Provide training and guidance to personnel involved in verification activities to ensure they understand the procedure and can effectively implement it. Roll out the procedure across the organization and ensure that personnel are familiar with their roles and responsibilities.
6. Monitoring and Review: Monitor the implementation of the procedure and periodically review its effectiveness. Collect feedback from personnel involved in verification activities, assess performance metrics, and identify opportunities for improvement. Make revisions to the procedure as necessary to address any issues or gaps identified during the review process.

By following these steps, organizations can establish a robust and effective documented procedure for verifying purchased products, components, or activities, ensuring conformity to specified requirements and contributing to overall quality management system effectiveness.

Verification of critical products, components or activities must include review of the organization’s required documentation from the supplier.

Reviewing the organization’s required documentation from the supplier is a crucial aspect of verifying critical products, components, or activities. Here’s why it’s essential and how it can be incorporated into the verification process:

1. Quality Assurance: Reviewing required documentation from the supplier ensures that the necessary quality assurance measures have been implemented throughout the supply chain. This documentation may include certificates of compliance, material test reports, inspection records, calibration certificates, and other quality-related documentation.
2. Conformance to Specifications: The review of supplier documentation helps verify that purchased products, components, or activities conform to specified requirements, including technical specifications, industry standards, regulatory standards, and contractual obligations. It ensures that the supplier has met all the necessary criteria outlined in the purchase order or contract.
3. Traceability and Accountability: Supplier documentation provides traceability and accountability throughout the supply chain by documenting the origin, history, and characteristics of purchased items. It helps track the flow of materials, components, and processes, facilitating product traceability, root cause analysis, and corrective action when necessary.
4. Risk Management: Supplier documentation review helps identify and mitigate risks associated with critical products, components, or activities. It allows organizations to assess the reliability, integrity, and suitability of supplier-provided documentation, ensuring that potential risks are identified and addressed before they impact product quality or performance.
5. Regulatory Compliance: Supplier documentation review ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards. It helps verify that the supplier has met all applicable regulatory requirements, certifications, and licensing obligations, reducing the risk of non-compliance and associated legal liabilities.

To incorporate the review of required documentation from the supplier into the verification process, organizations can follow these steps:

1. Documentation Requirements: Clearly define the documentation requirements for critical products, components, or activities in the purchase order or contract. Specify the types of documents, formats, and standards that suppliers must adhere to when providing documentation.
2. Supplier Communication: Communicate documentation requirements to suppliers and ensure they understand the expectations for providing required documentation. Provide guidance and support to suppliers as needed to ensure compliance with documentation requirements.
3. Documentation Submission: Require suppliers to submit required documentation along with the delivered products, components, or activities. Establish procedures for verifying the completeness, accuracy, and validity of supplier-provided documentation.
4. Review Process: Establish a review process for supplier documentation, including designated personnel responsible for reviewing and verifying documentation against specified requirements. Ensure that reviews are conducted promptly and thoroughly to prevent delays in the verification process.
5. Documentation Retention: Maintain records of reviewed supplier documentation as part of the organization’s documentation control system. Ensure that reviewed documentation is retained in accordance with record retention policies and regulatory requirements.

By incorporating the review of required documentation from the supplier into the verification process, organizations can ensure that critical products, components, or activities meet specified requirements, comply with regulatory standards, and contribute to overall quality and performance objectives.

Verification of critical products, components or activities must include the Verification of critical products, components or activities must include verification that the applicable versions were used when specifications, drawings, process requirements, inspection instructions, traceability requirements, and other relevant technical data are specified .

Verifying that the applicable versions of specifications, drawings, process requirements, inspection instructions, traceability requirements, and other relevant technical data were used is crucial for ensuring the conformity and integrity of critical products, components, or activities. Here’s why it’s important and how it can be incorporated into the verification process:

1. Accuracy and Consistency: Ensuring that the applicable versions of technical data are used helps maintain accuracy and consistency in the manufacturing or service processes. It ensures that all stakeholders are working with the latest and most up-to-date information, reducing the risk of errors, inconsistencies, and non-conformities.
2. Compliance: Verifying the use of applicable versions of technical data ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, customer specifications, and organizational policies. It demonstrates that the organization is following approved procedures and using authorized versions of documents and data.
3. Risk Management: Verifying the use of applicable versions of technical data helps mitigate risks associated with using outdated or incorrect information. It reduces the likelihood of product defects, rework, scrap, schedule delays, and other adverse consequences resulting from the use of obsolete or unauthorized versions of documents.
4. Traceability and Accountability: By verifying the use of applicable versions of technical data, organizations can establish traceability and accountability throughout the manufacturing or service processes. It allows them to track the use of specific versions of documents and data, identify potential deviations, and take corrective actions when necessary.

To incorporate the verification of applicable versions of technical data into the verification process, organizations can follow these steps:

1. Documentation Control: Implement a robust documentation control system to manage the issuance, revision, and distribution of specifications, drawings, process requirements, inspection instructions, traceability requirements, and other relevant technical data. Maintain a master list or database of approved documents and their respective versions.
2. Version Identification: Clearly identify the version of each document or piece of technical data, including revision numbers, revision dates, revision history, and any other relevant information to distinguish between different versions. Ensure that documents are properly labeled and marked with version control information.
3. Verification Criteria: Establish verification criteria for confirming the use of applicable versions of technical data. This may include cross-referencing document numbers, revision numbers, and revision dates against the requirements specified in the purchase order, contract, or quality management system procedures.
4. Verification Process: Define the process for verifying the use of applicable versions of technical data during the verification of critical products, components, or activities. This may involve reviewing documents, drawings, records, and other relevant information to ensure alignment with specified requirements.
5. Documentation Review: Include a documentation review step as part of the verification process to verify the use of applicable versions of technical data. Document the results of the review and any discrepancies identified, along with any corrective actions taken to address them.
6. Training and Awareness: Provide training and awareness programs to personnel involved in the verification process to ensure they understand the importance of using applicable versions of technical data and how to verify their use effectively.

By incorporating the verification of applicable versions of technical data into the verification process, organizations can ensure that critical products, components, or activities are manufactured or performed in accordance with approved procedures, standards, and specifications, ultimately contributing to product quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction.

Verification of critical products, components or activities must include the inspection, testing and/or verification requirements including methods, frequency, and responsible party. The organization shall determine the methods, frequency, and responsible party based on identified risk and supplier quality performance.

Verifying critical products, components, or activities involves determining the inspection, testing, and verification requirements, including methods, frequency, and responsible parties. This process should be based on identified risks and supplier quality performance. Here’s how this can be structured:

1. Identification of Critical Items: Begin by identifying critical products, components, or activities based on their impact on safety, performance, regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, or other key factors. Criticality can be determined through risk assessments, historical data analysis, customer requirements, and regulatory requirements.
2. Risk Assessment: Conduct a risk assessment to evaluate the potential risks associated with critical items. Consider factors such as complexity, variability, criticality, regulatory requirements, supplier performance, and historical quality data when assessing risks.
3. Verification Methods: Determine the appropriate verification methods based on the identified risks and criticality of items. This may include inspection, testing, auditing, certification, supplier evaluations, or a combination of these methods. Select methods that provide assurance of product quality, reliability, and compliance with specifications.
4. Frequency of Verification: Define the frequency of verification activities based on the identified risks, criticality, and supplier quality performance. High-risk items or suppliers with poor quality performance may require more frequent verification, while lower-risk items or suppliers with good quality performance may require less frequent verification.
5. Responsible Parties: Assign responsibility for conducting verification activities to appropriate parties within the organization. This may include quality assurance personnel, inspection technicians, engineering staff, purchasing managers, supplier quality engineers, or other relevant personnel. Clearly define roles and responsibilities to ensure accountability and effectiveness in verification activities.
6. Documentation of Requirements: Document the inspection, testing, and verification requirements for critical items, including the methods, frequency, and responsible parties. This information should be documented in purchase orders, contracts, quality plans, inspection procedures, or other relevant documents to ensure clarity and alignment with organizational requirements.
7. Monitoring and Performance Evaluation: Monitor the performance of verification activities to ensure they are carried out effectively and in accordance with established requirements. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as inspection results, test data, supplier performance metrics, and compliance with verification schedules to evaluate the effectiveness of the verification process.
8. Continuous Improvement: Continuously evaluate and improve the verification process based on feedback, data analysis, and lessons learned. Identify opportunities for process optimization, supplier development, and risk mitigation to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of verification activities over time.

By determining the inspection, testing, and verification requirements for critical products, components, or activities based on identified risks and supplier quality performance, organizations can ensure that verification activities are targeted, effective, and aligned with quality objectives, ultimately contributing to product quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction.

Noncritical products, components or activities shall be verified in accordance with the organization’s documented procedure.

while critical products, components, or activities warrant more rigorous verification due to their higher impact on safety, performance, or regulatory compliance, noncritical items should not be overlooked. Verifying noncritical products, components, or activities is important for several reasons:

1. Quality Consistency: Ensuring the quality of noncritical items helps maintain overall product consistency and reliability. Even though these items may not directly impact safety or performance, their quality can still affect customer satisfaction and brand reputation.
2. Preventing Quality Escalation: Neglecting verification of noncritical items can lead to quality issues escalating over time. Addressing potential quality concerns early on can prevent them from developing into more serious problems that may affect critical items or overall product performance.
3. Regulatory Compliance: Regulatory standards often require comprehensive quality management systems that encompass all aspects of product manufacturing or service delivery, including noncritical components or activities. Verification of noncritical items helps ensure compliance with these standards.
4. Supplier Performance Evaluation: Verifying noncritical items provides valuable insights into supplier performance across a range of products or services. This information can be used to assess supplier capabilities, identify improvement opportunities, and make informed decisions about supplier relationships.
5. Risk Mitigation: While noncritical items may pose lower risks compared to critical items, they can still introduce risks if they fail to meet quality standards. Verifying noncritical items helps mitigate these risks by addressing potential quality issues before they escalate.

When verifying noncritical products, components, or activities, organizations should consider factors such as:

• Appropriate Verification Methods: Selecting verification methods that are proportionate to the level of risk associated with noncritical items. This may include visual inspection, sampling, basic testing, or supplier self-certification, depending on the complexity and impact of the item.
• Frequency of Verification: Determining the frequency of verification based on factors such as supplier performance, historical quality data, and the potential impact of nonconformities. Noncritical items may require less frequent verification compared to critical items but should still be subject to periodic review.
• Documentation Requirements: Establishing clear documentation requirements for noncritical items, including specifications, drawings, process requirements, and inspection instructions. This ensures that expectations are communicated effectively to suppliers and that verification activities are conducted consistently.
• Responsibility and Accountability: Assigning responsibility for verifying noncritical items to appropriate personnel within the organization. This may include quality assurance personnel, purchasing managers, or inspection technicians, depending on the nature of the item and the verification requirements.

Verifying non-critical products involves a balanced approach that ensures adequate quality without overburdening resources. Here’s a structured process for verifying non-critical products:

1. Identification of Non-Critical Products: Begin by identifying non-critical products based on their lower impact on safety, performance, regulatory compliance, or customer satisfaction. These products may include items with minimal functional requirements, low cost, or low complexity.
2. Risk Assessment: While non-critical products pose lower risks compared to critical items, it’s still essential to conduct a risk assessment to determine the appropriate level of verification. Consider factors such as potential impact on customer satisfaction, regulatory requirements, supplier performance, and historical quality data.
3. Verification Methods: Select verification methods that are proportionate to the level of risk associated with non-critical products. This may include visual inspection, dimensional checks, basic functional testing, or supplier self-certification. Choose methods that provide reasonable assurance of product quality without excessive cost or complexity.
4. Frequency of Verification: Determine the frequency of verification based on factors such as supplier performance, historical quality data, and the potential impact of nonconformities. Non-critical products may require less frequent verification compared to critical items but should still be subject to periodic review to ensure ongoing quality.
5. Documentation Requirements: Establish clear documentation requirements for non-critical products, including specifications, drawings, process requirements, and inspection instructions. Communicate these requirements effectively to suppliers and ensure that verification activities are conducted in accordance with specified criteria.
6. Supplier Performance Evaluation: Monitor and evaluate supplier performance for non-critical products to ensure consistency and reliability. This may involve tracking quality metrics, conducting supplier audits or assessments, and addressing any performance issues or discrepancies that arise.
7. Responsibility and Accountability: Assign responsibility for verifying non-critical products to appropriate personnel within the organization. This may include quality assurance personnel, purchasing managers, or inspection technicians, depending on the nature of the product and the verification requirements.
8. Continuous Improvement: Continuously evaluate and improve the verification process for non-critical products based on feedback, data analysis, and lessons learned. Identify opportunities for process optimization, supplier development, and risk mitigation to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of verification activities over time.

Overall, while critical items require more stringent verification, ensuring the quality of noncritical products, components, or activities is also essential for maintaining overall product quality, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction. By incorporating appropriate verification measures for both critical and noncritical items, organizations can establish robust quality management systems that effectively manage risk and ensure product integrity.

Records of verification activities and evidence of conformity to specified requirements shall be maintained.

Maintaining records of verification activities is crucial for demonstrating conformity to specified requirements and ensuring traceability throughout the verification process. These records serve as documented evidence of compliance and are essential for quality management and regulatory purposes. Here’s how to ensure that records of verification activities include evidence of conformity:

1. Documentation of Requirements: Start by clearly documenting the specified requirements for the products, components, or activities being verified. This may include technical specifications, drawings, process requirements, inspection instructions, and any other relevant criteria that define conformity.
2. Verification Methods: Document the methods used for verifying conformity to specified requirements. This may include inspection, testing, auditing, certification, or other verification techniques depending on the nature of the product and the requirements involved.
3. Recordkeeping Procedures: Establish procedures for maintaining records of verification activities in a systematic and organized manner. Define what information needs to be recorded, how records should be documented, and where they should be stored for easy retrieval and review.
4. Verification Results: Record the results of verification activities, including any observations, measurements, test data, or other evidence gathered during the verification process. This should clearly indicate whether the products, components, or activities conform to specified requirements.
5. Non-Conformances: Document any instances of non-conformity identified during verification activities. This includes recording the nature of the non-conformity, its severity, any corrective actions taken, and the disposition of non-conforming items.
6. Signatures and Approvals: Ensure that verification records are signed or approved by authorized personnel responsible for conducting or overseeing verification activities. This provides accountability and confirmation that the verification results are accurate and reliable.
7. Traceability: Establish traceability of verification records to the specific products, components, or activities being verified. This may include referencing unique identifiers such as part numbers, serial numbers, lot numbers, or batch numbers to link verification records to specific items.
8. Retention Period: Define the retention period for verification records based on regulatory requirements, organizational policies, and the nature of the product or activity being verified. Ensure that records are retained for the required duration to support audits, inspections, and other compliance activities.

By ensuring that records of verification activities include evidence of conformity to specified requirements, organizations can demonstrate compliance with quality standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. These records also serve as valuable documentation for internal audits, supplier evaluations, and continuous improvement initiatives.

In the oil and gas industry, where the quality and reliability of purchased products are critical for safety, environmental protection, and operational efficiency, several records of verification activities are required to ensure conformity to specified requirements. Here are some key records of verification activities for purchased products in the oil and gas industry:

1. Purchase Orders: Records of purchase orders issued to suppliers, including details of the products ordered, quantities, specifications, delivery dates, and other relevant terms and conditions.
2. Supplier Qualification Records: Documentation of supplier qualification activities, including supplier evaluations, audits, assessments, and approvals. This ensures that suppliers meet specified criteria for quality, reliability, and performance.
3. Supplier Documentation: Records of documentation provided by suppliers, such as certificates of compliance, material test reports, inspection records, and quality assurance documentation. This verifies that purchased products meet specified requirements and industry standards.
4. Inspection Reports: Records of inspections conducted on purchased products upon receipt to verify conformity to specified requirements. This includes visual inspections, dimensional checks, and verification of material certifications.
5. Testing Reports: Records of testing conducted on purchased products to verify performance, functionality, and compliance with technical specifications. This may include material testing, pressure testing, chemical analysis, and other relevant tests.
6. Certificates of Conformity: Documents issued by suppliers certifying that purchased products meet specified requirements, standards, and regulations. This provides assurance of product quality and compliance.
7. Traceability Records: Records providing traceability of purchased products to specific batches, lots, or shipments, including unique identifiers such as serial numbers, heat numbers, or batch numbers. This supports traceability, recall, and quality control efforts.
8. Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs): Records documenting instances of non-conformity identified during verification activities, including details of the non-conformity, root cause analysis, corrective actions taken, and verification of effectiveness. Non-conformances may relate to product defects, deviations from specifications, or quality issues.
9. Supplier Performance Evaluation Records: Documentation of ongoing supplier performance evaluations, including metrics such as delivery performance, product quality, responsiveness, and customer satisfaction. This supports supplier management and continuous improvement efforts.
10. Change Control Records: Records documenting any changes made to purchase orders, specifications, or other relevant documents, including approvals, rationale for changes, and verification of implementation. This ensures that changes are properly managed and communicated to suppliers.

These records of verification activities for purchased products are essential for demonstrating compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring product quality and reliability, managing supply chain risks, and maintaining safe and efficient operations in the oil and gas industry. They also support audits, inspections, and regulatory reporting obligations imposed by regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders.

Example of Procedure for Verification of Purchased Products, Components, or Activities

1. Purpose: The purpose of this procedure is to establish a systematic process for verifying both critical and non-critical purchased products, components, or activities to ensure conformity to specified requirements in the oil and gas industry.

2. Scope: This procedure applies to all purchased products, components, or activities procured for use in oil and gas operations, including critical and non-critical processes.

3. Definitions:

• Critical Purchased Products, Components, or Activities: Those items whose failure or non-conformance could result in safety hazards, environmental impact, regulatory non-compliance, or significant financial loss.
• Non-Critical Purchased Products, Components, or Activities: Those items whose failure or non-conformance would not have a significant impact on safety, environmental protection, regulatory compliance, or operational efficiency.

4. Responsibilities:

• Purchasing Department: Responsible for issuing purchase orders and ensuring suppliers are qualified.
• Quality Assurance Department: Responsible for developing verification plans, conducting verification activities, and maintaining records.
• Supplier: Responsible for providing products, components, or activities that conform to specified requirements.

5. Verification of Critical Purchased Products, Components, or Activities:

5.1 Planning:

• Develop a detailed verification plan for critical items, considering factors such as safety implications, regulatory requirements, and risk assessment.
• Determine appropriate verification methods, frequency, acceptance criteria, responsible parties, and documentation requirements.

5.2 Inspection and Testing:

• Conduct rigorous inspection and testing of critical items upon receipt to verify conformity to specified requirements.
• Use advanced inspection techniques, such as non-destructive testing (NDT) or third-party certification, as necessary to ensure product integrity.

5.3 Records Management:

• Maintain comprehensive records of inspection and testing results, including inspection reports, testing reports, certificates of conformity, and any other relevant documentation.
• Ensure records provide evidence of conformity to specified requirements and support traceability throughout the verification process.

5.4 Non-Conformance Management:

• Document and report any instances of non-conformity identified during verification activities using non-conformance reports (NCRs).
• Investigate root causes of non-conformities, implement corrective actions, and verify effectiveness to prevent recurrence.

6. Verification of Non-Critical Purchased Products, Components, or Activities:

6.1 Planning:

• Develop a simplified verification plan for non-critical items, focusing on efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Determine appropriate verification methods, frequency, acceptance criteria, responsible parties, and documentation requirements based on risk assessment.

6.2 Inspection and Testing:

• Conduct basic inspection and testing of non-critical items upon receipt to verify conformity to specified requirements.
• Use standard inspection techniques, such as visual inspection and dimensional checks, to ensure product quality.

6.3 Records Management:

• Maintain records of inspection and testing results for non-critical items, including inspection reports, testing reports, and any other relevant documentation.
• Ensure records provide evidence of conformity to specified requirements and support traceability as needed.

6.4 Non-Conformance Management:

• Document and address any instances of non-conformity identified during verification activities for non-critical items using non-conformance reports (NCRs).
• Implement corrective actions as necessary to prevent recurrence and improve product quality.

7. Documentation:

• All records of verification activities, including verification plans, inspection reports, testing reports, certificates of conformity, NCRs, and any other relevant documentation, shall be documented and retained as per organizational record retention policies.

8. Training:

• Personnel involved in verification activities shall receive appropriate training and competency assessments to ensure they are qualified to perform their assigned tasks effectively and in accordance with established procedures.

9. Continuous Improvement:

• Periodically review and evaluate the effectiveness of the verification process for both critical and non-critical items.
• Identify opportunities for improvement and implement corrective and preventive actions as necessary to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of verification activities.

10. Review and Approval:

• This procedure shall be reviewed and approved by relevant management personnel to ensure its suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness in achieving its intended purpose.

Example of records of Verification of Critical Purchased Products, Components, or Activities:

Purchase Order	Product/Component	Supplier	Verification Method	Acceptance Criteria	Verification Result	Inspection Report	Testing Report	Certificate of Conformity	Non-Conformance Report
PO-001	Pressure Relief Valve	ABC Valves Inc.	Visual Inspection, Pressure Testing	Dimensional accuracy, Pressure rating	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A
PO-002	Safety Shutdown System	XYZ Controls Ltd.	Functional Testing, Performance Verification	Response time, Alarm activation	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A
PO-003	Pipeline Welded Joints	WeldTech Industries	Radiographic Testing, Ultrasonic Testing	Weld integrity, Defect detection	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A
PO-004	Fire and Gas Detection System	SafetyTech Solutions	Functional Testing, Alarm Verification	Response time, Sensitivity	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A
PO-005	Corrosion-resistant Coating	CorroCoat Inc.	Visual Inspection, Adhesion Testing	Coating thickness, Adhesion strength	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A
PO-006	Subsea Control Module	SubseaTech Ltd.	Pressure Testing, Functional Testing	Leakage rate, Functionality	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A
PO-007	Emergency Shutdown Valve	ValveTech Inc.	Visual Inspection, Leakage Testing	Dimensional accuracy, Leak tightness	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A
PO-008	Control Panel Enclosure	Enclosure Solutions Ltd.	Dimensional Inspection, IP Rating Testing	Enclosure size, IP protection	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A
PO-009	Instrumentation Transmitter	TransmitterTech Inc.	Calibration, Functional Testing	Accuracy, Signal output	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A
PO-010	Chemical Injection Pump	PumpTech Industries	Performance Testing, Flow Rate Verification	Flow rate, Pump efficiency	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A

Example of records of Verification of non Critical Purchased Products, Components, or Activities:

Purchase Order	Product/Component	Supplier	Verification Method	Acceptance Criteria	Verification Result	Inspection Report	Testing Report	Certificate of Conformity	Non-Conformance Report
PO-011	Office Furniture	FurniCo Inc.	Visual Inspection, Dimensional Checks	Appearance, Dimensional Accuracy	Conforms	Link	N/A	Link	N/A
PO-012	Office Supplies	OfficeTech Supplies Ltd.	Counting, Visual Inspection	Quantity, Packaging	Conforms	Link	N/A	Link	N/A
PO-013	Maintenance Tools	ToolMaster Industries	Visual Inspection, Functionality Check	Appearance, Functionality	Conforms	Link	N/A	Link	N/A
PO-014	Cleaning Supplies	CleanTech Solutions	Visual Inspection, Quality Check	Packaging, Quality	Conforms	Link	N/A	Link	N/A
PO-015	Office Electronics	Electronix Ltd.	Functional Testing, Power On Test	Functionality, Power Supply	Conforms	Link	Link	Link	N/A
PO-016	IT Accessories	TechGear Inc.	Visual Inspection, Compatibility Check	Appearance, Compatibility	Conforms	Link	N/A	Link	N/A
PO-017	Office Stationery	Stationery World Ltd.	Counting, Quality Check	Quantity, Quality	Conforms	Link	N/A	Link	N/A
PO-018	Packaging Materials	PackPro Packaging	Visual Inspection, Durability Check	Packaging Integrity, Durability	Conforms	Link	N/A	Link	N/A
PO-019	Safety Signs	SignMaster Inc.	Visual Inspection, Compliance Check	Appearance, Compliance	Conforms	Link	N/A	Link	N/A
PO-020	Maintenance Consumables	Maintenance Supplies Ltd.	Visual Inspection, Quality Check	Appearance, Quality	Conforms	Link	N/A	Link	N/A