Tony Inspection Services

This is the AQL table any inspection is based on, and it’s the golden rule to follow in doing goods inspection. It’s globally accepted by quality organizations. I hope this table would help buyers get more acquainted with the quality work, and gain more control over the goods quality when dealing with factories.

Please contact Tony Inspection for any goods inspection in south China region.  We’ll be your eyes and ears for the product quality.

What is RoHS ? The European Union(EU) Directive on the Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances(2002/95EC). This bans the use of certain substance in electrical and electronic equipment product after July 1st 2006.

What are the substances ? Cadmium(Cd), hexavalent chromium(Cr(VI)), polybrominated biphenyls(PBBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs) as well as lead(Pb).

What are the requirements ? According to 2005/618/EC, a maximum concentration value(MAC) of up to 0.1% by weight in homogenous material for Pb, Hg, Cr(VI), PBB and PBDE; and of up to 0.01% by weight in homogenous materials for Cd will be permitted in the manufacturers of new EEE.

What is WEEE ? Waster from Electrical and Electronic Equipment(2002/96/EC). It deals with the recovery, sorting and treatment of non-compliant products.

Who is affected ? Anyone that manufactures and sells electrical and electronic equipment within the specified categories.  Anyone that sells equipment produced by other suppliers under their own brand. Anyone that imports(or exports) affected equipment into European Union(EU) member states.

What is exempt from RoHS ?
.Mercury(in some lighting application)
.Lead in the glass of cathode ray tubes, electronic components and fluorescent tubes.
.Lead in certain steel, aluminium and copper alloys
.Lead in solder for servers, storage and array systems(until 2010)
.Lead in certain high temperature solders
.Lead in solders for network infrastructure equpment
.Lead in electronic ceramic parts
.Cadmium plating
.Hexavalent chromium (in absorption regrigerators)
.Arms, munitions and war material
.Other updated exemption items under 2005/717/EC and 2005/747/EC.

Where are the "banned" material used ?
Lead      Solders, terminations and PCB coatings, glasses, electronic ceramic in both active and passive devices.
Cadmium       Electroplating, NiCd batteries, plastics, arcinng contacts, sensors
Mercury        Batteries, fluorescent lamps, switches, sensors, relays.
Hexavalent Chromium   Coating on metals, primers for coated metals, hard chrome, metallising plastics.

Normal Inspection. Normal inspection is that which is used where there is no evidence that the quality of product being submitted is better or poorer than the specified quality level.

Reduced Inspection. Reduced inspection under a sampling plan uses the same quality level as for normal inspection, but requires a smaller sample for inspection.

Tightened Inspection. Tightened inspection under a sampling procedure plan uses the quality level as for normal inspection, but requires more stringent acceptance criteria.

ANSI/ASQ Z1.4-2003 revision. In December 2003 the ASQ (American Society for Quality) released the ANSI/ASQ Z1.4-2003 standard. This is a revision to the ANSI/ASQC Z1.4-2003 standard. The ASQ began shipping this new standard revision in middle January 2004. ANSI/ASQ Z1.4-2003 is nearly identical to MIL-STD-105E. There are no changes in the tables of sampling plans. The only change in the switching rules is that ANSI/ASQ Z1.4-2003 makes the use of the limit numbers for switching to reduced optional. In addition, ANSI/ASQ Z1.4-2003 contains additional OC curves called scheme OC curves that describe the protection provided by the switching procedure during periods of constant quality. Numerous changes where also made to the explanatory text but which do not affect any procedures. The MIL-STD-105E was officially cancelled in February 1995 by the US Air Force. But many companies continue to use this standard for inspection.

AQL has two different definitions due to standard changes.

Acceptable Quality Level. The acceptable level (AQL) is defined as the maximum percent defective (or the maximum number of defects per hundred units) that, for purpose of sampling inspection, can be considered satisfactory as a process average. The sampling plans most frequently used by the department of Defense are based on the AQL.

Acceptance Quality Limit. The AQL is the quality level that is the worst tolerable process average when a continuing series of lots is submitted for acceptance sampling.

Please contact us for more information. 

All nonconformity(defects) found during the inspection goes to one of the following categories,

1. Critical Nonconformity(Defect). A critical defect is on that judgment and experience indicate is likely to result in hazardous or unsafe conditions for individuals using, maintaining, or depending upon the products; or prevent performance of the tactical function of a major end item. A critical defective is a unit of product that contains one or more critical defects.

2. Major Nonconformity(Defect). Any unit having a nonconformity(defect) other than critical is likely to result in failure, or to reduce materially the usability of the unit for its intended purpose, or any unit having an aesthetics nonconformity(defect) which affect the saleability of the products, or as per applicant’s requirement.A major defective is a unit of product that contains one or more major defects.
3. Minor Nonconformity(Defect). Any unit having a nonconformity(defect) that is not likely to reduce the usability of the unit for its intended purpose, or is departure from established standards having little bearing on the effective use of the products.

I’m very professional in goods inspection. The goods inspection consists of the following steps,

1. Make product technical files(spec. sheets, drawings, golden samples);
2. Define defect categories(Critical, Major and Minor);
3. Choose level of sampling plan (MIL-STD-105E);
4. Perform on-site inspection;
5. Report (If pass, release goods and send report to customer. If NG, hold shipment and send report to customer.);