Evidence quality

An evident quality criterion for a classifier seems to be the percentage of correctly classified patterns (overall predictive ability). This criterion was used during the first years of pattern recognition applications in chemistry. However, the overall predictive ability suffers from the fact that it depends extremely on the composition of the prediction set. If, for example, 90 % of the patterns belong to class 1 and 10 % to class 2, a primitive "classifier" that always predicts class 1 would have 90 % overall predictive ability. Therefore, overall predictive ability has to be refused if an objective characterization of classifiers is necessary. 

The purpose of the nondestructive control consists in detecting local modifications of the material parameters which, by their presence can endanger the quality of the half-finished or finished products. The electromagnetic nondestructive control permits to render evident surface and subsurface discontinuities in the electroconductive material under test. The present tendency of this control is to pass from a qualitative evaluation (the presence or absence of the material discontinuities which give at the output of the control equipment a signal higher or at least equal to that coming from a standard discontinuity whose shape and severity has been prescribed by the product standards) to a quantitative one, which enables to locate as exactly as possible the discontinuity and to make predictions over its shape and severity. 

Figure C2.17.8. Powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) from amoriDhous and nanocry stalline Ti02 nanocrystals. Powder x-ray diffraction is an important test for nanocrystal quality. In the top panel, nanoparticles of titania provide no crystalline reflections. These samples, while showing some evidence of crystallinity in TEM, have a major amoriDhous component. A similar reaction, perfonned with a crystallizing agent at high temperature, provides well defined reflections which allow the anatase phase to be clearly identified.

The first nitration to be reported was that of beri2ene itself. Mitscher-lich in 1834 prepared nitrobenzene by treating benzene with fuming nitric acid. Not long afterwards the important method of effecting nitration with a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids ( mixed acid ) was introduced, evidently in a patent by Mansfield the poor quality of early nitric acid was probably the reason why the method was developed. Since these beginnings, nitration has been the subject of continuous study. 

The chart consists of a central line and two pairs of limit lines or simply of a central line and one pair of control limits. By plotting a sequence of points in order, a continuous record of the quality characteristic is made available. Trends in data or sudden lack of precision can be made evident so that the causes may be sought. 

Ceitification and records for components and materials. The examiner shall be assured, by examination of certification, records, or other evidence, that the materials and components are of the specified grades and that they have received reqiiired heat treatment, examination, and testing. The examiner shall provide the inspec tor with a certification that all quality-control requirements of the code and of the engineering design have been met. 

Quality goals should be set for all aspects of the operation, and there should be evidence that progress is being made towards those goals. There should be a system for error cause removal. 

The achievement of more effective levels of quality requires systematic planning and budgeting. There should be evidence of ongoing effort to identify variability in the quality of service and plans for improvement in areas that will have major benefits to the client. 

Purchasing may be critical to quality, cost efficiency and safety of the service provided. Therefore evidence should be given that there is a written management policy or directive establishing quality criteria. 

Look for any evidence that the toller puts in an effort to try to determine the value of quality loss. 

If hydrogenolysis does not occur, the pressure would be about 7000 lb. when a temperature of 300° is reaehed. If the pressure rises above 6200, starting with 3500 lb. at room temperature, it is evident that the quality of the catalyst or the alcohol is not satisfactory. Further attempts to prepare the glycol should be made with alcohol and catalyst of better quality,... 

Once the variability risks, and q, have been calculated, the link with the particular failure mode(s) from an FMEA for each critical characteristic is made. However, determining this link, if not already evident, can be the most subjective part of the analysis and should ideally be a team-based activity. There may be many component characteristics and failure modes in a product and the matrix must be used to methodically work through this part of the analysis. Past failure data on similar products may be useful in this respect, highlighting those areas of the product that are most affected by variation. Variation in fit, performance or service life is of particular interest since controlling these kinds of variation is most closely allied with quality and reliability (Nelson, 1996). 

There is no available evidence that PBDs occur in FIBC operations and therefore no demonstrated need for thin walled Type B containers designed with a breakdown voltage of 4 kV or less [lOj. However, since Type B containers are commercially available and in principle may offer slightly less risk, they might be considered where thin walls will not have a detrimental effect on product quality (6-7.1.1). 

The particles most likely to cause adverse health effects are the fine particulates, in particular, particles smaller than 10 p and 2.5 mm in aerodynamic diameter, respectively. They are sampled using (a) a high-volume sampler with a size-selective inlet using a quartz filter or (b) a dichotomous sampler that operates at a slower flow rate, separating on a Teflon filter particles smaller than 2.5 mm and sizes between 2.5 mm and 10 mm. No generally accepted conversion method exists between TSP and PM,o, which may constitute between 40% and 70% of TSP. In 1987, the USEPA switched its air quality standards from TSP to PMk,. PM,q standards have also been adopted in, for example, Brazil, Japan, and the Philippines. In light of the emerging evidence on the health impacts of fine particulates, the USEPA has proposed that U.S. ambient standards for airborne particulates be defined in terms of fine particulate matter. 

The main objective of air quality guidelines and standards is the protection of human health. Since fme particulates (PM,) are more likely to cause adverse health effects than coarse particulates, guidelines and standards referring to fine particulate concentrations are preferred to those referring to TSP, which includes coarse particulate concentrations. Scientific studies provide ample evidence of the relationship between exposure to short-term and long-term ambient particulate concentrations and human mortality and morbidity effects. However, the dose-response mechanism is not yet fully understood. Furthermore, according to the WHO, there is no safe threshold level below which health damage does not occur. 

The existing quality system requirements do have some of the above requirements but it is ISO/TS 16949 in which the full impact of their relationship is evident. It follows therefore that in making the transition from your existing system to an ISO/TS 16949 compliant system, the first step is to establish the extent to which your existing system possesses these linkages and feedback loops - a sort of coherence check to verify your system is not just a bolt-on extra. 

This can be done by providing evidence showing how business decisions have been made. Those made without using available data from the quality system show either that poor data is being produced or management is unaware of its value. 

There are two requirements addressing records of the management review which when combined require firstly that records of management review be maintained and secondly that these records provide as a minimum evidence of the achievement of objectives specified in the quality policy and the business plan and evidence of customer satisfaction with product supplied. 

The supplementary requirements provide a welcome addition to this somewhat inadequately specified clause of ISO 9001. However the reference to clause 4.1.1.2 with respect to objectives specified in the quality policy is somewhat ambiguous. Clause 4.1.1.2 does not require objectives to be included in the policy this is required in clause 4.1.1.1. As stated previously, system effectiveness is judged by how well the system enables implementation of policy and achievement of objectives. Therefore, requiring records that contain evidence of this is a logical interpretation. Such records need to identify the matters reviewed, the results, the actions, and the decisions taken, together with the names of those responsible and the date by which actions are to be completed. The records should also contain the data used to conduct the review as the basis upon which the decisions have been made and so that comparisons can be made at later... 

While the plan itself is not auditable by third parties, it may be auditable by second parties i.e. customers. The third party or registrar is entitled to examine the plan to ascertain that it is what it proclaims to be. The particulars are of no concern except those aspects relating to quality, such as the resources, quality objectives, customer satisfaction plans, and performance metrics. Whatever is stated on these aspects, the auditors will expect to see evidence that the business plan is not merely a wish list and that provisions have been made to enable implementation through the quality system. 

Measuring employee understanding of appropriate quality objectives is again a subjective process. Through the data analysis carried out to meet the requirements of clause 4.1.5 and 4.2.8 you will have produced metrics that indicate whether your quality objectives are being achieved. If they are being achieved you could either assume your employees understand the quality objectives or you could conclude that it doesn t matter. However, it does matter as the standard requires a measurement. Results alone are insufficient evidence. The results may have been achieved by pure chance and in six months time your performance may have declined significantly. The only way to test... 

What evidence demonstrates that your quality system is suitable and effective in satisfying ISO/TS 16949 and your stated quality policy and objectives ... 

While procedures should define the quality records that are to be produced, these are the records that will be produced if these procedures are used. On particular contracts only those procedures that are relevant will be applied and therefore the records to be produced will vary from contract to contract. Special conditions in the contract may make it necessary for additional quality records. Records represent the objective evidence with which you are going to demonstrate compliance with the contractual requirements. It would therefore be expedient, although not essential, to list all the records that will be produced and where they will be located. The list does not need to detail every specific record, providing it identifies types of records and all new records to be produced. 

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