Quality Managment Menu
“Stainless Foundry & Engineering’s Quality Assurance department is prepared to meet the growing needs of the evolving quality/material standards, inspection needs, and demanding technical challenges not just in metallurgical issues but also in the QA arena. Our prevention and inspection practices are set to be mutually beneficial to all involved whether it be customer, vendor, and the Foundry. We are here for you whenever you need us.”
Quality Management Overview
The Quality Policy Manual describes the following quality systems SF&E is
certified in: ISO 9001:2000 Edition, European Directive 97/23/EC for
Pressure Equipment (PED), TRB/AD Merkblatt (TUV) TRB 100 / TRB 801 Nr. 45
and 5.1 (3) AD-Standard WO/TRD 100, DNV approval of manufacturing –
standards for certification number 2.9 approval of manufacturers number
303.
The Quality Policy
Manual describes the following quality systems we are in compliance with:
ASME B & PV Code Section III NCA-3800; 10CFR50, Appendix B; MIL-I-45208;
MIL-Q-9858; and Norsok M-650.
Stainless Foundry
& Engineering, Inc. works our quality system to maintain compliance to the
above aforementioned quality system compliance section. We currently have
a Quality Policy Manual, Quality Management Procedures (QMP’s), and
numerous work instructions. All procedures are maintained by QM in a
controlled format.
Currently the
QA/QC department is staffed by the following personnel:
- Quality Manager
- Quality Supervisor
- Quality Systems Coordinator
- Two QM Engineers
- Two QM Contract Specialists
- One Dimensional Layout / NDT Specialist
- Three QM Final Inspectors
The Quality Manager administers and implements the quality system. The Quality Manager 1) identifies quality problems; 2) initiates, recommends, or provides solutions to quality problems through designated channels; 3(verifies implementation of solutions; and 4) assures that further processing, delivery, installation, or use is controlled until proper disposition of a nonconformance, deficiency, or unsatisfactory condition has occurred.
Special Processes Employed
SF&E personnel perform NDE (liquid penetrant, visual inspection), welding,
and heat treatment.
Radiographic,
ultrasonic, and magnetic particle inspection is subcontracted to qualified
and approved sources. All NDE personnel are qualified and certified to
the requirements of SNT-TC-1A and Mil-STD-410.
Welding procedure
specifications and welders are qualified and certified to the guidelines
set forth in ASTM A488, ASME Section IX, MIL-STD-248, and
S9074-AQ-GIB-010/248. In some instances, we have also qualified welding
procedure specifications to the European requirements of EN-288.
The heat treating
performed in-house is primarily for the investment Foundry. Approved
vendors perform heat treating of sand Foundry castings.
Verification
Travelers follow a job physically through the Foundry, as well as via the
AS/400 shop order system when special instructions are necessitated by a
customer or internal requirements. Travelers help the Foundry produce
castings that consistently meet the specified requirements. Traceability
is maintained by stamping the heat number on the casting. Chemical,
physical, and metallographic analysis capability resides in-house. Our
technical service personnel include metallurgists and technicians.
Final inspection, either 100% or sampled per the requirements of ANSI Z1.4 or Mil-STD-105E, is performed on the castings prior to release for shipment. We conduct dimensional inspection of castings, dies and patterns on coordinate measuring machines in the investment Foundry and the machine shop, as well as on a Portage layout machine in the sand Foundry.
Samples are dimensionally inspected to ensure compliance with the drawing requirements. Depending on the design complexity and the Alloy, the casting may be inspected by radiography and/or liquid penetrant.
Continuous Quality Improvement
Continuous quality improvement is forwarded by the efforts of a quality
improvement/training manager and is facilitated by regular courses
conducted in a well-equipped training center. Classes focus on
standardization of our Foundry practices, such as core making, molding,
pouring, etc., as well as on the use of statistical process control (SPC).
The essential elements of Six Sigma are followed and personnel are trained
to Six Sigma at many levels of the organization.
The QM staff includes the Quality Manager, QM Systems Coordinator, QM Supervisor, QM Engineers, Final Inspectors, and Manufacturing Inspectors.
Stainless Foundry & Engineering, Inc. is committed to continuous quality improvement and providing our customers with castings, meeting the required specifications and the requested delivery date.