EQR, Inc. - Introductory Information
Introductory Information

General Information   
EQR Process Overview   
EQR Quality Registry & Audit Body Detailed Responsibilities   
Your Role in the Registration Process   
EQR and Audit Body Responsibilities   
EQR Registration Process   

General Information 

Purpose:
The Electronic Industries Quality Registry (EQR) uses the ISO 
9000 series or QS 9000 automotive quality assurance 
standards, to audit and register your company's quality 
system.   
   
The EQR program is based upon CEN/CENELEC EN 45012, ISO, IEC 
Guide 48-1986(E), and ISO 10011.   
   
Accreditation:    
The Electronic Industries Quality Registry is accredited by 
the Dutch Council for Accreditation (RvA).   
   
Policy:    
The Electronic Industries Quality Registry's policy is to 
deliver third party quality system registration services in a 
professional, ethical, and timely manner.  In every function, 
EQR and its associates aim to exceed customer expectations 
for quality, technical competence, value, availability, 
responsiveness, objectivity, and consistency.  We will 
achieve this aim by actively pursuing continuous quality 
improvement through a total quality management approach to 
business.   
   
Scope:    
The registration program currently registers quality systems 
of organizations for the following industries:   
Pulp, Paper, and Paper Products   
Chemicals, Chemical Products, and Fibers,   
Rubber and Plastic Products,   
Non-Metallic Mineral Products (limited to ceramics),   
Basic Metals and Fabricated Metal Products,   
Machinery and Equipment,   
Electrical and Optical Equipment,   
Other Transport Equipment,   
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles, 
motorcycles, and personal and household goods,   
Transport, Storage and Communication, and Engineering 
Services.   
   
The Electronic Industries Quality Registry will utilize the 
nationally/internationally recognized quality system 
standards ANSI/ASQC-Q91/ ISO 9001 (which covers the broad 
spectrum of design, development, production, installation, 
and servicing); and Q92/ ISO 9002 (which examines the 
suppliers' capabilities in production, installation, and 
servicing where applicable).   
   
Prospective clients will specify in their applications what 
products/services and processes are related to the quality 
system for the scope of the registration audit.  This will 
define the boundaries for the auditors and the limits to 
which the Registration will apply.  
   
Confidentiality:    
The Electronic Industries Quality Registry uses your 
company's proprietary information only for the purpose of 
registration.  To assure confidentiality, impartiality, and 
compliance to standards, only EQR associates involved in the 
registration process will have access to the information.  
All are bound by a confidential agreement in the contract.  
   
EQR Process Overview          
EQR's Role 
    Process            
    Audit Body's Role  

Application and Client Quality Manual are used for the 
initial Review and Quotation  
Application
Contract and Client Quality Manual are used for the Desk 
Audit  

Preliminary Evaluation   
One-day on-site visit to review client's documentation and 
their understanding of the standard.  On-site Audit   
Usually a Multi-day visit by auditors to determine the degree 
of implementation.  Audit report issued.  
EQR review of audit report and decision on granting 
registration  
Registration Determination   
   
Surveillance 
Normally performed twice per year

EQR review of surveillance report and decision on renewing 
registration  
Registration Renewal Determination   
 
EQR Quality Registry & Audit Body Detailed Responsibilities 
The following guidelines for the Electronic Industries 
Quality Registry organization summarizes the various 
responsibilities of EQR and AUDIT BODIES in the registration 
process:  
   
EQR Quality Registry - Application for Assessment:    
a. Assign an EQR associate to manage your company's 
application process   
b. Upon request, provide advice on choosing the most 
appropriate Q/ISO standard to use   
c. Respond to you promptly   
d. Request documentation from your company   
   
     -Quality Manual   
     -Organization Chart   
     -Process flow charts   
e. Do preliminary evaluation of your company's documentation   
f. Advise you of disposition of application   
g. Provide contract proposal to you which includes fees   
h. Obtain any additional information needed from your company   
i. Maintain accurate record   
   
EQR Audit Body - Assessment Procedure:    
a. Assign assessment team with right of refusal by you   
b. At least one assessor should be familiar with processes 
relating to your company's specific  products or services   
c. Schedule preliminary assessment, if needed   
d. Do preliminary visit, if feasible and needed   
e. Evaluate your company's documentation in detail   
f. Use agreed upon QS/ISO 9000 series identified for scope of 
system audit   
g. Follow up on unacceptable items   
h. Keep you fully informed of progress toward registration   
i. Maintain records   
j. Provide formal report package to EQR   
   
YOUR ROLE IN THE REGISTRATION PROCESS 
The following list summarizes the applicant's / registered 
facility's responsibilities during the registration process:   
   
Application for Assessment:    
a. Submit application, including registration scope (i.e., 
ISO 9001, ISO 9002)   
b. Give supporting documentation, e.g., Quality Manual, to 
EQR and update when requested   
c. Respond to EQR's questions   
d. Assign single person for EQR to contact   
   
Assessment Procedure:    
a. Cooperate fully with audit team   
b. Provide facilities and personnel required by the team   
c. Notify team of any concerns regarding the registration 
process   
   
Registered Facility Responsibilities:    
 a. Comply with the requirements of the relevant Q/ISO 9000 
series standard   
 b. Comply with the requirements of EQR   
 C. Provide a controlled copy of their quality manual to EQR   
 d. Maintain a record of all customer complaints and remedial 
actions taken in response to them   
 e. Notify EQR in writing of changes to the quality system   
 f. Use the registration symbol only as specified in the 
contract   
 g. Discontinue use of the symbol when instructed to do so by 
EQR   
   
Modifying the Scope of the Registration:    
a. Request modifications on form provided by EQR or by letter   
b. Comply with EQR requests for additional information   
   
Surveillance:    
a. Cooperate with surveillance team   
b. Provide necessary personnel and facilities for 
surveillance team   
   
EQR & AUDIT BODY RESPONSIBILITIES 
EQR Quality Registration - Issue of Registration 
Documentation:    
a.  Examination of report package   
b.  Inform you when registration has been granted   
c.  Provide a certificate of registration when approved   
d.  Authorize use of registration symbol and give guidelines 
for use   
e.  Periodically publish a listing of registered facilities   
f.  Inform registered facilities about pending changes to 
registration status   
g.  Notify registered facilities of ISO 9000 changes and 
their responsibility to comply   
h.  Maintain accurate records   
   
EQR Quality Registry - Modifying the Scope of the Registered 
Facility's Registration:    
 a. Accept written requests for modifications to scope   
 b. Respond to you promptly   
 c. Provide additional information to you, including fees   
 d. Obtain any additional documentation needed from your 
company   
 e. Do preliminary evaluation of documentation   
 f. Notify registered facility if new assessment is required   
 g. Follow assessment procedure, if needed   
 h. Register again   
 i. Issue new certificate, or amendment, as necessary   
 j. Maintain accurate records   
   
EQR Audit Body - Surveillance:    
 a. Survey registered facility for continued compliance, 
normally twice a year   
 b. Repeat a complete audit at least every three years   
 c. Maintain accurate records   
   
EQR Quality Registry - Other:    
 a. Protect the confidentiality of your company's / 
registered facility's information   
 b. Promptly notify your company / registered facility of any 
concerns or complaints regarding its registration status   
 c. Monitor registered facility's use of the symbol   
 d. Maintain accreditation as a registrar   
 e. Maintain the technical competence of its audit body(ies)   
 f. Meet the highest standards for professional and ethical 
behavior   
 g. Provide availability, responsiveness, objectivity, 
consistency, and value in the services offered; measure 
improvement in these attributes   
   

EQR REGISTRATION PROCESS
Overview:    
The registration process consists of six (6) steps (see 
process overview ):   
 a. Application   
 b. Preliminary Evaluation   
 c. On-Site Audit   
 d. Registration Determination   
 e. Surveillance   
 f. Registration Renewal Determination   
   
Confidentiality Is Assured:    
EQR uses the applicant's information only for the purpose of 
registration.  To assure confidentiality, impartiality, and 
compliance to standards, only EQR associates involved in the 
registration process will have access to the information.  
   
Application:    
This step consists of two parts:   
a. Statement of intent by your company submitting an 
"application" (see Application form)    
b. Formation of intent into a contract.   
   
Submission:    
Your company submits an application form along with a copy of 
their quality manual to EQR.   
   
Standard:    
The applicant selects one of the following Quality System 
Standards to which he wants registration:   
* ANSI/ASQC Q 9001 (ISO 9001) "Quality Systems - Model for 
Quality Assurance in Design/Development, Production, 
Installation, & Servicing" - covers the broad spectrum of 
design, development, production, installation, and servicing    
* ANSI/ASQC Q 9002 (ISO 9002) "Quality Systems - Model for 
Quality Assurance in Production and Installation" - which 
examines the suppliers' capabilities in production and 
installation   
   
Scope of Products Covered by Registration:    
The applicant determines the scope of products, product 
types, and processes covered by the quality system 
assessment.  The registration certificate only applies to the 
scope identified in the contract.  Procedures exist for 
modifying the scope.   
   
Application Review:    
EQR reviews the application along with the quality manual.   
Companies appearing to have a documented quality system that 
meets the general intent of the quality standard will have a 
contract along with a price quote for the entire registration 
process mailed to them.  
   
Companies appearing not to have a documented quality system 
that meets the general intent of the quality standard will 
receive an explanation of where they fall short of the 
requirements.   
   
Possible reasons for not qualifying include the following:  
   
        a. In EQR's judgement, the company falls far short of 
the quality system requirements.  Such applicants should 
improve their quality system before seeking registration.    
        b. The company's product(s)/ process(es) are not 
included in EQR accreditation scope.  
   
   
Contract Submission:    
Your company submits the signed contract, the application 
fee, and any additional information requested by EQR.   
   
Preliminary On-Site Evaluation:    
After reviewing your company's application, quality manual, 
and any other information supplied by you, the EQR Audit Body 
schedules a preliminary on-site evaluation to address issues 
concerning the quality manual and to examine the applicant's 
detailed procedures.   
   
All companies normally receive a preliminary on-site 
evaluation.  EQR may waive it for reasons such as 
geographical location or knowledge from previous 
registrations.   
   
The lead auditor assigned to your company handles the 
evaluation.  
   
Any proprietary claims made by your company in the 
Application Form are discussed.  If these proprietary claims 
affect the audit, the lead auditor ceases the registration 
process, and notifies you and EQR.  
   
Preliminary Evaluation Report:    
Following the preliminary on-site evaluation, the EQR 
facility audit body forwards a complete report on the 
findings to the evaluated facility and to EQR for review and 
approval.  No decisions are made about registration at this 
time.  
   
On-Site Audit:    
The EQR audit body and your representative set a mutually 
agreeable date for the On-Site Audit for Registration.  
   
Applicable ISO:    
A team of qualified auditors will audit your company's 
quality system against each element in section four of the 
standard.  All failures to comply will require documentation 
and corrective action.  
   
Accreditation auditors that certify EQR as a registrar may 
accompany the audit team at times.  They audit EQR's 
performance regarding EQR's accreditation as a registrar.  
   
Exit Meeting:    
Before concluding the audit, the lead auditor conducts an 
exit meeting consisting of a verbal summary of all findings 
and a recommendation concerning registration.  
   
Three possible recommendations exist:    
a. Recommendation for Registration - The applicant does not 
have any non-conformances or open items.  Minor observations 
shall not be a reason to withhold registration unless, in the 
judgement of the audit team, the minor observations are so 
numerous or pervasive as to constitute a system issue.    
b. Recommendation Withheld Pending Corrective Action - The 
applicant has one or more substantive findings which, in the 
judgement of the audit team, can be corrected by the 
applicant and be adequately verified by the audit team 
without a full audit.    
c. Recommendation Not to Register - The applicant has one or 
more substantive findings which, in the judgement of the 
audit team, requires a complete audit after corrective 
action.   
   
Formal Audit:    
EQR sends a formal audit report to your company within 15 
working days of the conclusion of the audit.  
   
Corrective Action:    
Within an agreed time period, the applicant shall provide 
objective evidence that it took the corrective action 
required.  EQR may verify the corrective action by visiting 
the facility or confirming it during the surveillance audit.  
   
Registration Determination:    
EQR's Technical Program Manager reviews the formal report and 
any follow-up audit reports and makes the final determination 
on registration.  
   
Certificate:    
EQR issues a certificate to the applicant stating that they 
have met the requirements of the selected quality standard.  
The certificate indicates the scope of products and the 
facility to which it applies.  The certificate remains the 
property of EQR and the registered facility must return the 
certificate if the registration is canceled.  
   
Registration Listing:    
EQR lists the registered facility's name in its Registration 
Directory.  This listing includes the facility's location, 
the scope of products, and the certificate number.   
   
Use of Registration Symbol:    
Upon receiving the registration certificate, the registered 
facility may use the EQR symbol.  The symbol may only be used 
on advertising and correspondence but not on any product.  
When using the symbol, the registered facility's location and 
registration number must be clearly shown.   
   
Surveillance:    
The EQR performs surveillance audits on a minimal 
announcement basis, less than 30 days.  These surveillance 
audits verify the continuing conformity with the quality 
standard.  The frequency is at the discretion of EQR, 
normally at a rate of twice a year.  EQR may require 
additional audits to investigate changes or corrective action 
results.   
   
During each surveillance audit, the auditor reviews the 
registered facility's customer complaint records.  The 
auditor checks for root-cause analysis as well as corrective 
action and process improvements made to prevent recurrence.   
   
Each surveillance audit verifies that the management 
structure has not changed and that the processes continue to 
comply with the standard.   
  
   
Modification of Registration:    
A registered facility holding a valid certificate may apply 
for changes to it.  In such cases, EQR decides whether to 
require a new application or a new audit based on how closely 
the previous certificate covers the quality system, products, 
processes, and facility in the request for modification.   
   
Cancellation Conditions:    
Cancellation shall occur for the following conditions:   
a. Surveillance indicates a serious non-conformance to the 
quality system standards, EQR rules, or any relevant 
requirements   
b. At the registered facility's request   
c. The registered facility fails to conform to a change of 
rules by EQR, accreditation boards, or changes in the 
referenced standards within a grace period.   
d. If the registered facility ceases to supply the product or 
service for an extended period of time   
e. If the registered facility fails to meet its financial 
obligations to EQR.   
   
EQR's Technical Program Manager will determine whether the 
registration should be canceled.  When it is determined to 
cancel the registration, the registered facility will be 
notified in writing.  The certificate of registration shall 
be returned, the registered facility shall discontinue use of 
the EQR symbol, and the registered facility's name shall be 
removed from the registration directory.   
   
EQR Changes to the Registration System:    
EQR may change the registration system requirements.  In such 
cases, EQR consults all interested parties in writing of the:   
a. Proposed changes.  They are asked to comment on the 
changes.   
b. Proposed effective date.  The effective date is no sooner 
than six (6) months after approval by the Advisory Board 
unless a safety or legal issue requires quicker 
implementation.   
   
Appeals Procedure:        
Any interested party, as well as the applicant may appeal a 
decision of EQR, such as the initial quality of audit 
findings, or registration.  The applicant may also appeal 
EQR's Registration Board's denial of registration, as well as 
the cancellation or impending cancellation or their 
registration.   
   
Detailed information on this process will be provided upon 
request.  

EQR Home Page   

Copyright 1996 EQR, Inc.