Quality Assurance for Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations

Quality Assurance for Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations

Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations

• Quality Assurance Branch Primary Functions:

Monitor Cotton Program Quality Assurance Activities

Management of Quality Assurance Checklot Program


• Quality Assurance Checklot Program

Approximately 1% of all samples classed each day at each classing office are randomly selected as a checklot for retest by the Quality Assurance Branch

Checklot samples are selected at the classer station by the Non-stop computer after the classification process is complete

The classification data assigned by the HVI or classer can not be changed after the sample is selected as a checklot



Checklot samples are shipped to the Quality Assurance Branch via overnight delivery for next day classification

All checklot samples submitted to the Quality Assurance Branch are tested on two separate HVI systems

The test results of the two Quality Assurance HVI systems are compared to ensure the results are within established tolerances



Checklot samples with results for any quality measurement that are outside the established tolerances based on the comparison of the two Quality Assurance HVI systems are deleted and not included in the data provided to the classing offices

The results from the two Quality Assurance HVI systems that are within the established tolerances are averaged and used for comparisons to the classing office results



Repeatability (reproducibility) and bias are calculated for all HVI factors, classer leaf grade and extraneous matter by comparing the classing office results to the Quality Assurance Branch results

Test results are telecommunicated to each respective office immediately after classification is complete at Quality Assurance

Checklot data is utilized by USDA to ensure all offices provide accurate data to customers



Quality Assurance follows the same type calibration and In-house procedures as the Classing Offices to ensure consistency

Quality Assurance also maintains an internal checklot program to ensure that all QA HVI’s and classers are on the same and correct level



Crop Upland Checklots Pima checklots

2009 104,251 5,963

2010* 99,914* 1,988*

Checklot Samples Classed

2010 Through 11/18/10Classification of Upland crop 59% completeClassification of Pima crop 26% complete



The goal of Quality Assurance is to provide classification results back to the offices the same day the checklot samples are received

During the “peak” of the season, Quality Assurance will operate multiple shifts and work weekends to provide timely data to the offices



Quality Assurance classification results are returned to the respective offices immediately after the QA classification is completed

All checklot results from the Quality Assurance Branch are tracked back to the Classing Office, shift of operation, classification date, classification time, classing supervisor, classer, HVI, HVI supervisor, and HVI operator



Reports are generated and data are analyzed throughout the day to detect any potential problems or level shifts

If the Quality Assurance staff detects any actual or potential problem, immediate interaction occurs with the office to ensure correction



• Leaf Grade• Extraneous Matter• Micronaire:• Strength:• Length:• Length Uniformity:• Trash % Area• Color Rd• Color +b• Particle Count

No Tolerance No Tolerance± 0.13 unit± 1.6 grams/tex± 0.024 inches± 1.2 unit± Equation Based± 0.8 unit± 0.3 unit± Equation Based

Reproducibility tolerances


Leaf Grade Extraneous Matter0

102030405060708090

100

88.899.1

Manual Reproducibility

Results Through 11/18/10


Mike Strength Length Uniformity Trash Rd +b Part. Cnt0

102030405060708090

10086.3

81.6 80.8 79.886.3 90.3 90.6 91.6

HVI Reproducibility

Results Through 11/18/10


• Data Analysis


• Data Analysis


• Data Analysis


• Data Analysis







Quality Meetings are conducted each week to evaluate office performance and identify quality problems or potential problems

The quality meetings include the Deputy Administrator, if available, the Associate Deputy Administrator, and representatives from the Grading Branch, S&E Branch and the Quality Assurance Branch



During the active classing season, the Associate Deputy Administrator, Grading Branch Chief, Quality Assurance Branch Chief and/or other supervisory personnel visit classing offices to ensure proper operational procedures

Documents

Quality Assurance for Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations