0 001 quality policy statement

Approval

Revision History

Quality Policy Statement

1 Quality Policy Statement

1.1 It is the policy of Therma Corporation to provide its customers with construction, services and products that maintain our reputation for high quality workmanship, exceptional performance, and superior reliability. We will do so by maintaining a well-trained workforce, and continuously striving to improve our processes and services.

1.2 We will maintain a high level of commitment to quality throughout all levels of the organization, and instill the value of quality in all new members of the organization.

2 Our Goals and Purposes

2.1 To ensure that our contracts clearly reflect the customer’s expectations and are accurate per the quoted agreement.

2.2 To fulfill the quality requirements and satisfy the customer’s needs.

2.3 To provide services marked by consistency and dependability.

2.4 To apply a suitable method of selecting the materials, products and suppliers to use in every process, in order to guarantee the quality of the final product and given service.

2.5 To strive for continuous improvement in the quality of our construction, manufacturing and engineering processes with our Corrective/Preventative Action policy.

2.6 To provide a work environment that promotes Pride in workmanship, Safe working conditions and Opportunity for personal and professional growth.

3 Management Responsibility

Management responsibility at Therma is assigned as follows:

3.1 Therma’s CFO & President have the overall responsibility and authority to define and ensure Therma’s compliance with the quality management policies and procedures.

3.2 Directors, Department Managers, Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that all Therma quality activities relating to their functions are performed according to the requirements of this manual, and cross functional procedures. The Managers are responsible to the CFO & President for ensuring that all stated quality practices and procedures conform and operate according to the requirements stated in this manual.

3.3 Management assigns suitably qualified personnel and provides the necessary resources required for performing job activities and meeting department responsibilities for providing quality product and service. Management assigns adequately trained personnel to conduct quality audits of the Quality Management System. Upon identification of non-conformances, managers implement timely, effective corrective actions to prevent recurrence of the problem.

3.4 The CFO & President have identified the QA / QC Manager as the QCM, having the responsibility and authority to ensure that Therma’s Quality Management System is established, implemented and maintained effectively to meet this Quality Policy. The QCM also serves as Therma’s liaison with any/all external auditing authority.

4 Quality Management System

4.1 The Therma Quality Management System is comprised of this 'Quality Policy Statement' document and our controlled 'Quality Control Standard Operating Procedures'(SOP) documents. The Therma Quality Policy Statement presents the general quality policies. The Standard Operating Procedures present the general quality policies, operating procedures and practices that assure conformance to Therma quality objectives.

4.2 The QC SOP's detail the quality objectives and defines the key activities, responsibilities, and authorities to meet those objectives. Therma employees and managers use it as a guide to understand their commitment and involvement in achieving corporate quality objectives. Documents that directly support the policies and objectives set forth in this system are listed in Therma’s Quality Management System Table of Contents.

5 Quality Management System

5.1 Therma’s Quality Management System (QMS) consists of five levels of documentation that defines the quality management system requirements. The first level consists of the QMS Manual, which defines Therma’s commitment to providing quality to its customers and to meeting the requirements of its quality policy and objectives.

5.2 The second and third levels include the documented company and department policies and procedures. The fourth level includes the supporting documentation such as work instructions, checklist, and forms. A fifth level includes the records that result from implementation of the preceding four levels.

5.3 Therma’s Quality Management System documentation is accessible to all Therma personnel.

6 Documentation and Data Control

6.1 Therma uses systems and procedures to ensure that appropriate documentation is available for use by employees. Department procedures define quality processes and serve as a reference for employees. Employees are responsible to use the latest revision of their work documents.

6.2 A Document Control Procedure is used to initiate, change, approve and release documentation. New documents and changes to documentation are identified and approved by authorized personnel. The nature of all changes is identified in the document or attachment where appropriate. Obsolete or invalid documentation is identified, segregated/disposed of, or archived as appropriate, to prevent unintended use. A master list of all controlled documents and their current revision status is maintained.

6.3 Document Control function is responsible for released non-product documents including: department procedures, flowcharts, forms and checklists. External and product documents, such as quality control instructions, customer drawings, product specifications, drawings, Bills of Material, and industry standards are monitored, controlled and accessible through the Document Control Procedure.

7 External Audits

7.1 Therma believes that inspection and assessment are integral parts in maintaining an effective Quality Management System and to ensure continuous improvement. Routinely, customers perform external audits of our Quality Management System.

7.2 Managers support external audits by participating, and implementing corrective actions to resolve any non-conformances found. Audit records are maintained and the results of the audit are presented at Management Review (QA/QC Team) meetings.

7.3 Non-conformances found during audits are documented and prioritized. The timeliness and effectiveness of corrective actions are monitored through the Corrective/Preventive Action Procedure. Overdue corrective actions are escalated as appropriate. Follow-up is done to verify implementation and effectiveness of completed corrective actions.

7.4 The effectiveness of the audits is reviewed during Management Review (QA/QC Team) meetings.

8 Action Items, Corrective Actions and Preventive Action

8.1 Therma supports continuous improvement through the assignment of specified actions, corrective or preventive actions. Any employee can request an action, corrective or preventive action via independent means to report product or process defects and deviations and customer complaints. The corrective or preventive action is authorized and a solution owner is assigned.

8.2 The QCM manages the corrective action process, and when notified of a corrective or preventive action request, assigns an owner to determine the action required to resolve the problem. Overdue actions are escalated as appropriate.

8.3 Upon completion of corrective actions, verification is done to ensure the implementation and continued effectiveness of the corrective action.

8.4 Action Items, Corrective and Preventive Actions are reported during Management Review (QA/QC Team) meetings. Action Items, Corrective and Preventive Actions are recorded, periodically analyzed and reviewed for possible trends that indicate a need for further root cause analysis. This analysis is used as a basis for feedback on process improvement.

9 Management Reviews

9.1 A review of the Quality Management System is performed at least once a year to assess the suitability and effectiveness of the system in meeting the established goals and objectives. Department’s indices and the results of internal audits and corrective/preventive actions are a part of this periodic review. Records of management reviews, including status of all action items assigned are maintained.

10 Control of Quality Records

10.1 Therma maintains appropriate records to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Quality Management System, and to show that project(product) and customer requirements have been met.

10.2 Quality records are collected, indexed and retained in a manner to ensure appropriate retrieval and prevent document damage, loss and deterioration. The records that are collected, storage location, and retention period are defined. Unless otherwise specified by the process owner, quality records are maintained for a minimum of three years, with contracts kept for a minimum of five years.

11 Purchasing and Supplier Management

11.1 Therma carefully screens suppliers in order to ensure that supplied materials adequately satisfy material requirements. Suppliers are selected using established criteria. Records of approved suppliers are maintained.

11.2 Purchase orders clearly describe the requirements for materials, products, and services ordered, including any applicable industry or quality system standards where needed. Purchase orders are reviewed and approved for adequacy prior to issue.

12 Customer Supplied Material/Equipment

12.1 Therma subjects all customer-supplied material and equipment to its standard quality processes and procedures. Appropriate records are maintained.

12.2 Any customer supplied material or equipment that is lost, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable for use is documented and reported to the customer.

13 Material Management

13.1 Procedures are established and followed that define the appropriate methods for procurement, receiving, handling, storing, packaging, preservation, and delivering product in order to prevent damage or degradation.

13.2 Pending use or shipment, all material is identified and segregated in identified storage areas. Individuals authorized to receive materials into or dispatch items from the designated areas are defined.

13.3 Products are packaged in accordance with prescribed methods, using materials designed to maintain product quality during transit. Order and product identification is clearly marked, and provides for any contract or carrier requirements. In addition, delivery and dispatch documentation contains product description, destination and transit considerations.

14 Process Control

14.1 Therma emphasizes a proactive approach to process control. Focus is on inspecting for quality during the design and production process and not waiting for final inspection to perform any necessary corrective action.

14.2 To support our “do it right the first time” approach, process instructions define operational procedures and include in-process and post-process quality control checks. Standards for workmanship are provided using a manner appropriate to the function. All documentation is routed through an approval process. Records of quality checks are used as the basis of feedback for process quality improvement.

14.3 Process instructions and quality control instructions are in a form appropriate to the task and the skill level of the employee performing the task. They include, where applicable, workmanship standards, definitions for equipment use, and references to visual aids, samples and standards.

14.4 The use of suitable production, installation, and servicing equipment, and a suitable working environment is controlled including the approval of processes and equipment as appropriate. Equipment maintenance records are kept.

14.5 The requirements for any qualification of process operations, including associated equipment and personnel, are specified. Records are maintained for equipment and personnel, as appropriate for these qualified processes. These processes are controlled by equipment setup, maintenance of the equipment, trained personnel, and process control checks ensuring that the process is meeting our requirements.

15 Control of Non-Conforming Product

15.1 When a product or material defect is identified, the non-conforming item is segregated for investigation and disposition. The item is reviewed by authorized personnel to determine the need for corrective action and subsequent material disposition. Reworked and repaired item is re-inspected and/or re-tested.

15.2 The Corrective and Preventive Action is used to record and track deviations. Records of non-conformances are maintained and periodically reviewed for trends in order to determine any preventive action required. Delivery of material that does not conform to a customer’s specifications requires the customer’s prior knowledge and documented consent.

16 Control of Inspection, Measuring and Test Equipment

16.1 Therma maintains a process to control, calibrate, and maintain equipment and software used for the inspection, measuring and testing of product. Therma selects appropriate equipment based on the measurements to be made and the accuracy required. Therma uses calibrated equipment that is traceable and operates within national or international standards for inspection and test of product quality. Equipment and software is used in a manner that insures that the measurement uncertainty is known and is consistent with the required measurement capability.

16.2 A suitable indicator is used to show calibration status, and safeguards are implemented to prevent adjustments that would invalidate the calibration setting. Equipment is stored and handled in a manner to ensure accuracy and fitness for use.

16.3 Therma maintains calibration records for inspection, measuring and test equipment indicating unique ID, frequency of checks, and method used.

16.4 When equipment is found to be out of calibration, Therma reviews the results of the equipment’s previous testing and takes appropriate corrective action on any affected products.

17 Inspection and Testing and Status

17.1 Through inspection and testing of our products, Therma ensures that parts or materials used in the design and development of products conform to specified requirements. Inspection and test requirements are documented for incoming inspection, in-process inspection, and final inspection activities. Required tests and inspections are completed and verified prior to product being released, except when product is released under positive-recall procedures. Incoming product is positively identified and recorded when released for urgent production purposes prior to verification in order to permit immediate recall and replacement in the event of nonconformity to specified requirements.

17.2 Finished products are subject to final inspection to determine conformance to specified requirements. In addition to inspection of finished product characteristics, we verify that required inspections have been completed with satisfactory results. Therma products must pass final quality inspections before release. Documentation/records identify the inspection authority responsible for the release of product. Status of product is identified by suitable means. Nonconforming product is separated when identified and removed from the production area. Records of inspection activities are maintained.