Age Sensitive Materials - Identification and Traceability procedure - Powder Coat

[Titus]

Thanks CarolX and JaxQC,

Points well taken, I am making progress with the paint supervisor as he stated "whatever we need to do man, we'll do it", far cry from yesterday. I am familiar with the MFGR's date. As stated, I will get with the paint MFGR to see if we can tie a date to the batch number on the box.

Thanks all for your help

 

[John Martinez]

Also, when purchasing a product with a shelf life, be sure purchasing is specifying A MINUM SHELF LIFE REMAINING on the purchase order.

If a supplier has customers that demands a minimum shelf life and your organization does not, then that supplier will likely unload close to expiration date or expired material on you.

 

[somashekar]

Also, when purchasing a product with a shelf life, be sure purchasing is specifying A MINUM SHELF LIFE REMAINING on the purchase order.

If a supplier has customers that demands a minimum shelf life and your organization does not, then that supplier will likely unload close to expiration date or expired material on you.

I found this and perhaps may be useful information to people using Henkel products (Loctite) Consult Henkel for more details ...

 

[Phil Fields]

Also, when purchasing a product with a shelf life, be sure purchasing is specifying A MINUM SHELF LIFE REMAINING on the purchase order.

If a supplier has customers that demands a minimum shelf life and your organization does not, then that supplier will likely unload close to expiration date or expired material on you.

John makes a good point. We had to educate one of our suppliers about shelf life. The supplier did not realize that there was a shelf life on a construction adhesive that we purchase.

Since we explained the shelf life date code and our requirements we have not had a issue.

Phil

 

[Big Jim]

Although sort of covered by prior posters on this thread, I wish to point out that you can usually find information about manufactures date codes and shelf life by either visiting their web site or with a phone call. There is no need for it to be a mystery.

 

[John Martinez]

Although sort of covered by prior posters on this thread, I wish to point out that you can usually find information about manufactures date codes and shelf life by either visiting their web site or with a phone call. There is no need for it to be a mystery.

Exactly.

 

[RCW]

From what I am reading in this thread, most people have an expiration label they attach to shelf-life limited material. However, where is your tracking after the material hits the floor? I also read that people are relying on the workers to notify a supervisor when they find expired product. That's good but Murphy's Law would say that when you go to use that material for a job, it will have expired already.

To try and remedy this situation, we also maintain an Access database to log the material in and out of. Receiving logs the information in, Production Managers review it monthly (Any material needs coming up or items coming up for expiration?) and operators inform their supervisors when material is all used up and the database is adjusted accordingly.

This has worked pretty good.....up until now. I've been hit with a dual shelf-life requirement. There is a silcone sealant we use that has a 'use by' date stamped on the tube. That's the date that goes in the database. HOWEVER, in the directions on the tube (who reads that stuff anyway!) it says to use within 6 months of opening. Now I have to adjust my system to handle the "dual mode" shelf life.

 

[Phil Fields]

We perform quarterly audits of the shelf life material. This is scheduled though our Preventative Maintenance Database (Person in charge of the audits also own PM). All material found outside of the shelf life is discarded.

Phil

 

[QA Rod]

In the company I work for our chemicals/solder/fluxes etc. are labeled with expiration dates. During Process Audits we generate findings for past due chemicals we see in cabinets/not being used. I have been instructed that we do not write these up, only chemicals with past due labels that are being used when the audit is taking place. We cannot write up past due chemicals in cabinets. We are an ISO 13485/ISO 9001 certified company. Please help me either explain with reference to the standards or accept that it's ok to have past due expiration date chemicals in cabinets or not being used.

 

[Big Jim]

What safeguards are in place to keep them from being used when auditors are not around?