CSA CAN3-Z299 is a series of

quality assurance Quality assurance (QA) is the term used in both manufacturing and service industries to describe the systematic efforts taken to ensure that the product(s) delivered to customer(s) meet with the contractual and other agreed upon performance, design ...

standards developed by the

Canadian Standards Association The CSA Group (formerly the Canadian Standards Association; CSA) is a standards organization which develops standards in 57 areas. CSA publishes standards in print and electronic form, and provides training and advisory services. CSA is composed ...

in the 1970s. It is an alternative to the

ISO 9000 The ISO 9000 family is a set of five quality management systems (QMS) standards that help organizations ensure they meet customer and other stakeholder needs within statutory and regulatory requirements related to a product or service. ISO ...

series of standards. The stated objectives of the Z299 series of standards are: (a) “To provide customers with assurance that products or services of the required quality will be supplied;
(b) For suppliers to assume responsibility for achieving the required quality and then demonstrating that it has been provided.”''CAN3-Z299.0-86: Guide for Selecting and Implementing the CAN3-Z299-85 Quality Assurance Program Standards'', p. 13

CSA CAN3-Z299 Series

CAN3-Z299 includes the following standards. Z299.4, .3, .2, .1 apply increasingly rigorous quality assurance activities. They were most recently reaffirmed in 2006.

CAN3-Z299.0-86: Guide for Selecting and Implementing the CAN3-Z299-85 Quality Assurance Program Standards

The Guide provides the intent of the standards, compares the four quality assurance standards available in the series, and provides guidance on selecting the appropriate standard for the product or service.

CAN3-Z299.4-85: Quality Assurance Program – Category 4

Z299.4 is appropriate for mass-produced products designed to ordinary technical standards, or high volume services. It includes requirements to: *Carry out inspection and testing *Have a plan to deal with non-conforming items *Keep records *Control measurement and testing equipment

CAN3-Z299.3-85: Quality Assurance Program – Category 3

Z299.3 is appropriate for products or services which involve some complex processes. Failure of the product could cause significant monetary cost or some risk to health and safety. It includes all of Z299.4 requirements, plus: *Control of

procurement Procurement is the method of discovering and agreeing to terms and purchasing goods, services, or other works from an external source, often with the use of a tendering or competitive bidding process. When a government agency buys goods or se ...

activities *Control of documentation *

Traceability Traceability is the capability to trace something. In some cases, it is interpreted as the ability to verify the history, location, or application of an item by means of documented recorded identification. Other common definitions include the capab ...

of items *Control packaging & shipping *A manual to document these activities

CAN3-Z299.2-85: Quality Assurance Program – Category 2

Z299.2 is for products or services requiring complex processes and technology, requiring planning in production and verification of design. Failure of the product could cause high monetary cost or significant risk to health and safety. It includes all of Z299.4 and Z299.3, plus: *Control of manufacturing activities *Control of handling and storage *A plan to deal with multiple inspections and tests * Corrective action program to prevent repetition of errors *Procedures to describe these activities

CAN3-Z299.1-85: Quality Assurance Program – Category 1

Z299.1 is suitable for custom designed products or services with a high degree of technology. Failure in service could result in extremely high monetary loss or high risk to health and safety. It includes all of Z299.4, Z299.3, and Z299.2, plus: *Control of design activities through procedures *Independent

audit An audit is an "independent examination of financial information of any entity, whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form when such an examination is conducted with a view to express an opinion thereon.” Auditing ...

s on the quality assurance program

Quality Assurance Principles of Z299

Z299 covers twenty-one areas of the product or service lifecycle: 1. Tender and

Contract A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tr ...

Review
2. Design
3. Documentation
4. Measuring and Test Equipment
5.

Procurement Procurement is the method of discovering and agreeing to terms and purchasing goods, services, or other works from an external source, often with the use of a tendering or competitive bidding process. When a government agency buys goods or se ...

6. Inspection and Test Plans
7. Incoming Inspection
8. In-Process Inspection
9. Final Inspection
10. Inspection Status
11. Identification and

12. Handling and Storage
13. Production
14. Special Processes
15. Packaging and Shipping
16. Quality Records
17. Nonconformance
18. Corrective Action
19. Customer Supplied Products and Services
20. Statistical Techniques
21. Quality

Audit An audit is an "independent examination of financial information of any entity, whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form when such an examination is conducted with a view to express an opinion thereon.” Auditing ...

Comparison to ISO 9000

ISO 9000 and Z299 standards have many similar requirements. One of the main differences between them is that Z299 requires Inspection and Test Plans to be submitted to the purchaser by the vendor, and independent inspection and testing. The Inspection and Test Plan details key inspections and tests at certain points in the production process, and is meant to complement a generic quality program by providing detail on the requirements of a specific product.

References

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External links

ISO
(

International Organization for Standardization The International Organization for Standardization (ISO ) is an international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries. Membership requirements are given in Ar ...

)
CSA
CSA) Standards Quality assurance