Quality Management System

5.1 Scope

For the purpose of this section, a quality management system means all of the planned and systematic actions taken by a tank car facility to provide adequate confidence that a tank car, service equipment, lining or coating conforms to the requirements set out in this standard and the TDG Regulations, including the requirements for design, manufacture, qualification, maintenance of tank cars and handling of dangerous goods.

5.2 Application

Each tank car facility must have a quality management system that includes all of the elements and processes specified in clause 5.4.

5.3 General Requirements

The quality management system must be developed and established in accordance with the requirements of a standard or series of standards and must be registered, approved, or certified by an organization independent of both Transport Canada and the tank car facility. The standard or series of standards must be widely recognized as being capable of meeting or exceeding the requirements of this section.

5.4 Specific Elements and Processes of the Quality Management System

5.4.1 Management Commitment

The management of the tank car facility must appoint a member of management who, irrespective of other responsibilities, shall have the authority and responsibility for overseeing the quality management system of the tank car facility, including:

1. ensuring the quality management system is established and maintained;
2. reporting to management on the performance of the quality management system; and
3. promoting awareness of the importance of the requirements of this standard and the TDG Regulations throughout the tank car facility.

5.4.2 Planning

A planning process for the products and services provided by the tank car facility for transforming the requirements of this standard and the TDG Regulations into quality objectives for each product or service must be established and documented. The planning process must include a means for determining:

1. processes and documentation and the level of detail required;
2. verification and validation activities;
3. records that are necessary to ensure compliance to the requirements of this standard and the Regulations; and
4. if the tank car facility has the ability to meet the determined requirements.

5.4.3 Human Resources

A human resources management process must be establish and documented. This process must:

1. determine competency needs for personnel affecting quality;
2. provide effective training to ensure competency of personnel;
3. create and maintain records of education, training, qualification, and certification as required;
4. create and maintain awareness and importance of the quality management system to all employees; and
5. assign quality responsibilities to personnel on the basis of their meeting the respective competency needs.

5.4.4 Purchasing

A purchasing control process must be set out to ensure purchased products and services conform to the requirements of this standard and the TDG Regulations. The purchasing control process must include procedures for the evaluation and selection of suppliers.

5.4.5 Product Realisation

An operations control process for the products and services provided by the tank car facility must be established and documented. The operation control process must require:

1. the provision of information to personnel that specifies the quality of the product or service;
2. the provision of written procedures as determined by the quality planning process;
3. the availability and good order of equipment used for the realisation of products and services;
4. the availability and accuracy of monitoring and measuring devices;
5. the provision of written instructions to employees;
6. the provision of a description of the manufacturing, repair, inspection, testing, and qualification or maintenance program including the acceptance criteria, so that the characteristics of the tank car, service equipment, lining or coating and the elements to inspect, examine, and test can be identified;
7. the provision of procedures for non-destructive inspections for qualification authorized and evaluated by the owner to ensure the inspection and test technique employed, taking into account the accessibility of the area, has the capability of detecting a defect of the minimum rejectable size;
8. a system for the maintenance of records, inspections, tests, and the interpretation of inspection and test results; and
9. the qualification of personnel involved in performing any non-destructive inspections and tests in accordance with Appendix T of the AAR Specifications for Tank Cars publication.

5.4.6 Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement

A measurement, analysis, and improvement process must be established that allows a tank car facility to verify the compliance of the products and services provided to the requirements of this standard and the TDG Regulations, to determine and address the cause of any non-compliance, and if necessary to improve the quality management system. The measurement, analysis, and improvement processes shall address:

1. the measurement and monitoring of processes;
2. the evaluation and monitoring of products and services;
3. the release and delivery of products and services, including post-delivery activities and maintenance of records;
4. the control of non-compliant products and services;
5. the determination and elimination of the causes of any non-compliance;
6. periodic internal audits to determine if the quality management system complies with the requirements of this standard and the TDG Regulations and has been effectively implemented and maintained; and
7. the calibration of inspection and test equipment.

5.4.7 Other Elements

Procedures must be established to ensure:

1. that the latest applicable drawings, design calculations, specifications, and instructions are used in the manufacturing, repair, inspection, testing, and qualification or maintenance;
2. that incoming parts and materials are properly identified and segregated when received and during storage; and
3. that any maintenance or modification of a tank car involving welding is documented in the form of a detailed procedure.

Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next Page