ASME Program Certifies Nuclear Quality Assurance

ASME Program Certifies Nuclear Quality Assurance ASME Program Certifies Nuclear Quality Assurance ASME Program Certifies Nuclear Quality AssuranceThe ASME Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1) Certification Program provides centralized, independent, third-party certification for quality assurance programs in conformance with the ASME NQA-1 standard, Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications. Officially launched three years ago, the NQA-1 Certification Program aims to expand the nuclear industrys supply chain with organizations that are committed to understanding quality and providing first-class nuclear products and services. ASME worked with industry leaders in the field of quality assurance, members from the NQA Standards Committee and its Subcommittees, and the Committee on Nuclear Certification, to develop the NQA-1 Certification Program, which was designed ensure the proper application of the NQA-1 requirements. To receive NQA-1 certification, a companys quali ty assurance program is assessed by a team of trained ASME auditors with an extensive background in quality assurance. Once the team conducts a complete audit and determines that the supplier is implementing its QA program in einhaltung with the NQA-1 standard, the company will receive an NQA-1 Quality Program Certificate. The NQA-1 Certificate indicates to customers that the certified company has an established nuclear quality assurance culture and that its QA program has been continuously updated to meet the latest edition of the standard.Eighteen months ago, Premier Technology became the first company to complete the NQA-1 Certification program. The company, which is located in Blackfoot, Idaho, specializes in manufacturing for government and the commercial nuclear, pharmaceutical, food processing, and mining and petrochemical industries.Having the certification from ASME has increased ur visibility within the nuclear community, including opening doors to gaining access to bids, according to Burke. In addition, having the ASME certification has reduced the time customers spend conducting additional audits by more than half, and cut the size of those audit teams in half. In the past, the first thing an audit team would ask for is to our manual, Burke said. Now, the first thing people want to see is our NQA-1 Certificate. In addition to those benefits, the program has also shown Premier Technology a financial return in the marketplace, according to Sayer. We have been able to secure millions of dollars in contracts based solely on our company having an NQA-1 Certificate, he said. Recently we were awarded a contract because one of the requirements was to be NQA-1 Certified by ASME. Not only has the company seen a benefit in the nuclear arena, the certification from ASME has also benefited Premiere in unexpected ways, including helping the company secure two international contracts in the aerospace and oil and gas markets, Sayer said. Even though we have a cert ification in NQA-1, the two companies felt comfortable that we possessed the knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the NQA-1 standard throughout our shop, he said. NQA-1 certification is available to companies and organizations located throughout the world that have implemented a nuclear quality assurance program in conformance with the ASME NQA-1 Standard (2008 edition and later editions and addenda). Certification is based upon an initial full audit of the program, followed by two interim audits within a three-year certification period to verify that the QA program is being maintained in compliance with the NQA-1 standard. Certification can be renewed at the end of the third year, provided that the company remains in compliance.For more information on ASMEs Nuclear Quality Assurance program, including how to start the certificate application, visit go.asme.org/nqa-1. Chris Mahler, business development manager at ASME, and Joseph Pang of ASMEs Standards Certification department, will be discussing the NQA-1 Program at the Energy, Technology and Environmental Business Association (ETEBA) DOE Supplier Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., from June 15 to 18. To learn more about their appearance at the conference, or for information on upcoming conferences, contact Chris Mahler by e-mail at mahlercasme.org.