Retention Time of Items Tested clarification - QS-9000 section 4.10.6.3

[pancho-2007]

We are having a debate as to what QS-9000 section 4.10.6.3 means. We have items that we test and have kept in our Lab for one year before disposing. This section to me reads that we are to keep our items tested for LIFE of the part. Someone else here reads it as keep it untill the raw material runs out which in our case is around 3 to 6 months. Can anyone help me on how long you are to keep the items tested in the lab?

 

[Marc]

Sorry we missed this. umm, retention times are typically determined:

1. By customer requirements.
2. Your internal requirements.

4.10.6.3 says "...throughout the life in the laboratory..." I read that to mean until test or inspection results are complete and the data is accepted.

 

[Ken K]

We usually retain all test samples for one month after the test report is published.

For annual material certs we retain all test samples for one year.

 

[AllanJ]

We are having a debate as to what QS-9000 section 4.10.6.3 means. We have items that we test and have kept in our Lab for one year before disposing. This section to me reads that we are to keep our items tested for LIFE of the part. Someone else here reads it as keep it untill the raw material runs out which in our case is around 3 to 6 months. Can anyone help me on how long you are to keep the items tested in the lab?

As I have stated elsewhere, it is important to ask the right question. Try this: for how long would it be prudent for our business to retain such items given the nature of our product, our market, relevant product liability risks and the views of our legal department and insurance company?

What some companiies get concerned about is the "clutter and junk" they see building up and the cost of storingf/ retaining/ protecting it. But they fail to simulataneously ask "what would it cost if we were not able to produce those sample items if we ever get sued?" Then you may find maintaining a storage site/ container - whatever - is rather cheap outlay.

Of course, to take a hypothetical case, suppose you made tires that exploded causing roll-over accidents, you might not want the actual test coupons to be found, if they might show you were negligent. Even then, in such a hypothetical case, the lawyers might have a field day.

QS and other standards are deliberately non-prescriptive as the QMS and all your processes/ systems etc are there to serve your business needs, not the standard.