핵심 사항
- Qualify the producing plant, not only the selling company.
- Evidence over declaration: request records, not statements.
- Set a pass standard in advance so evaluation is objective.
The four evidence areas
Production capability and capacity; quality management system and control points; traceability from raw material to lot; and documentation practice including certificate content and issuance discipline. Weakness in documentation predicts problems in every other area.
Reading a certificate set critically
Ask for certificates from several consecutive lots. Identical values across lots suggest transcribed rather than measured results. Missing method references, absent lot identification and inconsistent formats are meaningful signals.
Scoring and the pass standard
Define the minimum acceptable standard before reviewing candidates, and score against it consistently. Retrospective standards adapt to whichever supplier is commercially attractive, which defeats the purpose of the exercise.
진행 방법
- Send a structured pre-qualification questionnaire covering the four evidence areas.
- Request certificates and records from several consecutive production lots.
- Evaluate representative samples against your specification.
- Verify traceability from finished lot back to raw material.
- Conduct or commission a plant assessment for critical ingredients.
- Score against the pre-set standard and document the decision.
확인 항목
- Producing plant identity and approval references
- Multi-lot certificate history with method references and lot numbers
- Traceability demonstrated on an actual lot, not described in principle
관리 리스크
- Qualifying the trading entity while the producing plant remains unassessed
- Certificates that are transcribed rather than generated from testing
- Capability assessed on capacity claims rather than evidence
흔한 실수
- Running qualification after a commercial commitment
- Accepting a certification logo in place of a system review
- Not re-qualifying when a supplier changes plant or process
자주 묻는 질문
Does a recognised certification replace qualification?
No. Certification indicates that a system was assessed against a standard at a point in time. It does not confirm that the specific material you are buying meets your specification.
How often should qualification be renewed?
On a defined cycle, and immediately on any change of producing plant, process route or ownership. Performance data from receiving results should also trigger review.