ASME recently presented an update on their new QA Program certification system.

2. ASME Certification
of
NQA-1 Suppliers
Joseph Pang
ASME
Project Engineering Manager
Conformity Assessment

3. Background
• Market survey in fall 2009
– Mixed feedback
– Utilities have effective joint audit program for existing
facilities
– Benefits for new suppliers for new construction
• Interest by a wide variety of suppliers
– Desire for a system parallel to the existing ASME
Nuclear Certification Program
– Interest for international suppliers
– Management wants ISO type certification with focus on
the nuclear power sector

4. Need for Certification Program
• Resurgence of nuclear power
• Nuclear supply chain expansion
• RG 1.28 (Rev 4, June 2010)
endorses NQA-1-2008 and the 2009
Addenda
• Promote consist application
• Assist suppliers in becoming
“qualified” bidders

5. Benefits for New Construction
• Advantage for new suppliers
• Consistency and standardization
• Recognition by ASME that program
meets NQA-1 Standard
– Independent quality evaluation
– Confirms program implementation to
supplier’s management
• Allows new supplier to state they are
“ready to be a nuclear supplier”

6. Status
• At their June 8, 2010 meeting, the
ASME Standards and Certification
Board of Directors voted:
To approve the establishment of the
Nuclear Supplier Certification
Program.
• Implement a NQA Certification
Program by June 30, 2011

7. History
ASME Conformity Assessment
• 1915 Began issuing BPV Certification/Stamps
• 1968 Began Nuclear Certification Program
• 1972 US Justice Department Issues Consent
Decree, ASME agrees to certify companies
outside of the US and Canada
• 1987 Began Accrediting other Conformity
Assessment Bodies (At the request of the
Elevator Industry)
• 1990 Began Certifying Individuals (At the
request of the US EPA)

8. ASME Conformity Assessment
Programs
Board on Conformity Assessment
Personnel
Certification
Product
Certification
Accreditation
GDTP
(847 Certificates)
QHO
(85 Certificates)
QFO
(39 Certificates)
QRO
(1580 Certificates)
C-BPVCA
(BPV - 5766 Companies)
(PRD – 10 Companies)
CNC
(N-type – 220 Companies)
(QSC – 61 Companies)
RTP
(10 Companies)
QAI
(23 Companies)
QEI
(3 Companies)
Data as of Sept. 2010

9. Definition – NQA Certification
• A certification program that verifies by
QA manual evaluation and site audit
that a supplier has implemented a
quality program that meets the
requirements of the ASME NQA-1
Standard.

10. NQA Certification
• ASME NQA Certification will be limited
to only verifying a QA Program to the
requirements of latest edition of the
NQA-1 Standard
• Starting with the 2008 Edition and
2009 Addenda, an Applicant may
request that their QA Program be
frozen to a specific Edition of NQA
• Modifications which do not relax or
conflict with existing NQA-1
requirements are allowed

11. Two Exclusions
• BPV Section III Suppliers
– Adequately addressed by existing
program
– Require interface with Authorized
Nuclear Inspection Agency
• Operating Nuclear Facilities
– Subject to control by regulatory
authority
– NQA-1 not approved by NRC for
operation

12. Challenges or Issues
• Certification cost
• Certification renewal after becoming
an established supplier
• No initial regulatory recognition
• Need to share audit results with
purchasers

13. Challenges or Issues
• Certificate scopes
• Organizations with multiple
locations
• Recognition of an Acceptable
QA Program Manual w/o
Implementation
• Process to achieve certification

14. Certification Process
Issuance of Certificate
Initial Preparation
QA Program Manual Review
Certification Decision
Site Audit3-year cycle
w/ two
surveillances

15. Certification Process
Issuance of Certificate
Initial Preparation
QA Program Manual Review
Certification Decision
Site Audit3-year cycle
w/ two
surveillances

16. Certification Process
Issuance of Certificate
Initial Preparation
QA Program Manual Review
Certification Decision
Site Audit3-year cycle
w/ two
surveillances

17. Certification Process
Issuance of Certificate
Initial Preparation
QA Program Manual Review
Certification Decision
Site Audit3-year cycle
w/ two
surveillances

18. Certification Process
Issuance of Certificate
Initial Preparation
QA Program Manual Review
Certification Decision
Site Audit3-year cycle w/
two
surveillances

19. Questions and Answers
Q – Who pays for the cost of the NQA
Certification?
A – The organization requesting the
certification.
Q – What is the cost?
A – Dependent upon the complexity of
the QA Program and the scope of
activity.

20. Questions and Answers
Q – Will the audit report be a
confidential document with the
certification being the only proof of
compliance?
A – No. A complete audit report will be
provided to the supplier for their
distribution to purchasers for the
purpose of supplier qualification.

21. Questions and Answers
Q – How will consistency with the NQA
Standard be maintained?
A – Through an open line of
communication between the
Certification Committee and the NQA
Standards Committee and through
the issuance of interpretations.

22. Questions and Answers
Q – What edition of the NQA Standard
will be used for certification?
A – The initial Certification program will
be to the NQA-1 Standard currently
endorsed by the NRC. Certification
will not be available to other historical
NQA editions.

23. Questions and Answers
Q – What is the length or frequency of
the certification?
A – Certification will be for a three year
period, which is consistent with the
supplier audit frequency.

24. Questions and Answers
Q – Will there be an annual evaluation
of the supplier?
A – Yes. Two surveillances will be
conducted within the 3 year term of
the certificate.

25. Questions and Answers
Q – What if I want to change my QA
program? Do I have to re-certify?
A – A process will need to be developed to
accommodate and evaluate the changes.
Depending on the extent of the changes
the applicant would be provided with the
options of: a QA Manual Review, a
surveillance or an early renewal audit.

26. Questions and Answers
Q – What is the NRC’s and DOE’s view
of the ASME Certification program?
A – It has been discussed with the
NRC and DOE staff informally. When
the details of the program are
developed a meeting with the NRC
and DOE will be held to obtain their
input.

27. What’s Next
• Work with NQA Officers to form a
Project Team (5 NQA members)
– Operating Procedures
– Scope Statements
– Audit Checklist
– Application Form
– Questionnaire to determine Team Size
and length of time
– Report Format
– Identify Individual(s) to Train ASME
Consultants

28. For further information, contact:
Joseph Pang
pangj@asme.org
(212) 591-8525