Chemical Quality Testing: When and How to Verify a Supplier's Claim

Chemical Quality Testing: When and How to Verify Supplier Claims?

In the chemical industry, quality testing is an important part of ensuring product safety and compliance. When a supplier makes a claim to you, how to effectively verify its claimed quality data becomes a key issue. This article will analyze this issue in detail from three aspects: when to verify, how to choose test methods, and how to record and report test results.

When will quality testing be performed?

In chemical production, quality testing is usually carried out in key links such as raw material procurement, semi-finished product production or finished product delivery. Supplier claims are often related to product quality, so verification tests should be carried out under the following circumstances:

1. problems claimed by the supplier: If the supplier clearly points out that a batch of products has quality problems, such as content deviation, excessive impurities or stability problems, verification tests should be arranged immediately.
2. Quality Risk Alert: According to the company's quality manual or industry standards, regular quality risk assessment is carried out to identify key raw materials or production links that may affect product quality, and verification tests should be arranged in this link.
3. Abnormal production process: If abnormal signs are found in the production process, such as equipment failure, process change or supplier delivery problems, production should be suspended immediately and verification tests should be arranged.

How to choose the appropriate test method?

Choosing the right test method is the key to verifying the supplier's claim. The following are considerations for selecting a test method:

1. whether the data provided by the supplier is accurate: Suppliers usually provide quality data in purchase contracts, such as content, impurity rate, or stability data. The accuracy and reliability of these data should be verified first.
2. Whether the test method meets the industry standard according to the relevant standards of the chemical industry (such as GB/T, ASTM or ISO standards), select the appropriate test method to ensure the scientific and consistent test results.
3. Whether the need for testing is clear: Through quality risk assessment, confirm that the quality of the batch of products or raw materials has a direct impact on production or use, and conduct verification tests when necessary.

How are test results recorded and reported?

Accurate recording and reporting of test results is essential in the process of validating supplier claims. The following are specific recording and reporting methods:

1. record Details: After the test is completed, the source of the test sample, the test method, the test result and the problems found should be recorded in detail. This information should be compared with the data provided by the supplier to confirm whether there are any discrepancies.
2. Report results and make recommendations: Report the test results to the relevant departments, and make suggestions on whether it is necessary to renegotiate the solution with the supplier according to the results. For example, if a supplier is found to have a content deviation that does not actually exist, it should be advised to resubmit a satisfactory batch.
3. Track problem resolution: For unresolved issues, the test should be rescheduled within the specified time until the issue is completely resolved.

Case Study: Treatment of Supplier Claims of Quality Issues

suppose a chemical company purchases a batch of raw materials, and the supplier claims that its content does not conform to the contract. In order to verify this statement, the company has arranged a special laboratory for testing. The test results show that the actual content is consistent with the value claimed by the supplier. The enterprise then renegotiated with the supplier and finally reached an agreement that the supplier should bear the corresponding responsibility for providing false data.

Through the above analysis, it can be seen that the verification of supplier claims is a systematic process, which needs to be considered in combination with the actual situation, industry standards and quality risk assessment. Only through scientific and rigorous testing and recording can the stability of product quality be ensured, thereby ensuring production safety and customer satisfaction.