Is Quarry Blasting a Special Process according to 7.5.2?

[Randy]

On an other note, the first and the best measure of a good blast is made from the sound heard of the blast by the blast site manager. This is based on experience and not a direct measure. Hence this process can never get into the requirement of 7.5.2.

After one has blasted enough he can tell a fizzle from a good blow, trust me. I've known guys who could pile stuff up from a blast as good as a shovel

 

[armani]

Thank u all for ur opinions .... It's good having a third (fourth, fifth...) opinion!
But, one question arises with obstinacy (for the sake of your opinion): validation is not mandatory according to ISO 9001, so, excluding it, could rock blasting still be "special process" (7.5.2 a-d)?
It would induce a more sense of responsibility in treating this process as part of ISO 9001 Q mgm. system, I think!

 

[somashekar]

Thank u all for ur opinions .... It's good having a third (fourth, fifth...) opinion!
But, one question arises with obstinacy (for the sake of your opinion): validation is not mandatory according to ISO 9001, so, excluding it, could rock blasting still be "special process" (7.5.2 a-d)?
It would induce a more sense of responsibility in treating this process as part of ISO 9001 Q mgm. system, I think!

I would more say it as a specialized process as it involves high levels of risk of life, serious injury, property damage , legal and more, associated to quarry blasting process.

 

[Big Jim]

Thank u all for ur opinions .... It's good having a third (fourth, fifth...) opinion!
But, one question arises with obstinacy (for the sake of your opinion): validation is not mandatory according to ISO 9001, so, excluding it, could rock blasting still be "special process" (7.5.2 a-d)?
It would induce a more sense of responsibility in treating this process as part of ISO 9001 Q mgm. system, I think!

I think you are still hung-up on understanding the definition of a "special process". If you look to the aerospace standard, AS9100C, you will get a better idea. I understand that what is there is actually a holdover from an earlier iteration of ISO 9001.

In AS9100C, "special processes" shows up as a note for 7.5.2.

"NOTE These processes are often referred to as special processes."

You keep trying to put the term special processes somewhere else, but it belongs right here in 7.5.2, validation of processes. When you can't tell the outcome of a process from ordinary inspection, it needs to be validated. These processes that require validation are special processes, plain and simple.

I believe, as others have told you, that quarry blasting is not a special process. You can tell the outcome from ordinary inspection.

Is it possible that you have no special processes and could claim 7.5.2 as an exclusion? Yes. Just make sure that there are no processes that require validation.

From my experience, it is the 2nd most claimed exclusion, well behind design.