Quality Assurance Blog
The latest source for industry and GQA news.
NRC Commerical Grade Dedication Information Notice
Posted by asantiago on Feb 18, 2011 at 01:30 PM
Hello Everyone:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing the attached Information Notice (IN) to summarize their observations and findings in the area of commercial-grade dedication (CGD), as it applies to operating reactors, over the previous 2 years. The NRC expects recipients to review the information and to consider actions, as appropriate, to review lessons learned and avoid similar problems. Suggestions contained in this IN are not NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.
Download the notice here.
NUPIC Dec 2010 Newsletter
Posted by asantiago on Feb 18, 2011 at 01:27 PM
We like to make sure you are informed of what is going on in the industry. With that in mind, please follow the link below to get NUPIC’s latest newsletter.
The theme of this newsletter is continuous improvement and feedback. This is a necessity for any thriving organization. If you have kudos or recommendations for NUPIC, I am sure the committee would welcome your feedback. Also, with this newsletter NUPIC is reinstating the distribution of their twice a year newsletter. As a subscriber to our newsletter, you can be certain we will always forward this important information on to you.
Did you win an iPad at PowerGen 2010?
Posted by asantiago on Jan 04, 2011 at 02:25 PM
Here are the results of our drawing for the GQA gift baskets from PowerGen 2010.
- The small gift basket, including an iPod Shuffle went to: Sanjai Puppala with Siemens
- The medium gift basket, including an iPod Nano went to: Webb Durrett with Think
- And the grand prize, including the iPad went to: Lee Caston with Zeeco
A big congratulations to each of you! We here at GQA hope you have been enjoying your new toys!
Free Pass to PowerGen
Posted by asantiago on Nov 24, 2010 at 03:12 PM
As an exhibitor, GQA has been authorized to give you a free one day pass to PowerGen. This is a great opportunity for you to check out the tradeshow to see if exhibiting or attending is right for your business. You need to act fast, if you are interested, as the offer ends December 7th.
While you are there - don’t forget to stop by our booth, #4948
Join us at PowerGen
Posted by asantiago on Nov 24, 2010 at 03:10 PM
Stop by our booth at the Nuclear Power International section of PowerGen in Orlando, December 14-16. We are booth number 4948, so stop by for your chance to win an iPad, iPod Nano, or iPod Shuffle, plus tons of ther goodies! Or find some respite in the tradeshow madness with a bottle of water and a fresh piece of fruit. We can’t wait to see you there!
Being Proactive
Posted by asantiago on Oct 12, 2010 at 10:19 AM
If you attended the NUPIC Vendor Interface Committee (VIC) Meeting in New Orleans this year, you heard the NRC and NUPIC elaborate on the many issues identified during recent NUPIC Audits. They concluded that in some cases, and based on the number and significance of the issues, the internal audit program was ineffective. Fortunately, none of the internal audit program weaknesses identified were for GQA clients. However, just like the NRC and NUPIC emphasized, GQA is recommending that the internal audit teams be strengthened and more in depth internal audits performed in the future.
We are encouraging our clients to increase the teams from one to two auditors, at a minimum, and/or extend the audit duration. This will allow for a much more in depth internal audit and self assessment. Another option is to include a company technical and quality resource in which to supplement the internal audit team.
The Beauty of Steel
Posted by asantiago on Oct 12, 2010 at 10:12 AM
Hirschfeld Industries, a strategic partner of Global Quality Assurance, was highlighted in the October issue of Modern Steel Construction for their work on Kansas City’s new performing arts center, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Hirschfeld, the steel fabricator for this project, was chosen because of their, “expertise with complex steel structures...” (Modern Steel Construction) Because of the excellent project management within Hirschfeld, they were able to fabricate most of the steel at their own facilities in Texas and then ship them to the site in Kansas City. We are very proud of our friends at Hirschfeld Industries for being a significant part of the Kauffman Center, which promises to be a beautiful structure.
Download the Article
Sweet Home …. Carolina?
Posted by asantiago on Oct 12, 2010 at 10:10 AM
Global Quality Assurance, Inc. (GQA) is proud to announce a second office located in Summerville, South Carolina. GQA’s decision to open doors in South Carolina is based on the government and community support for nuclear energy in the Carolinas as well as its central location for proposed new reactor sites. According to the NEI, two-thirds of the proposed reactors are located in the south east.
Carolina Nuclear Cluster (CNC), “collaboratively strengthens workforce, services, products, and policies to capture and extend [their] global leadership in nuclear energy capabilities.” (newcarolina.org) The CNC is working with local colleges, including Central Piedmont Community College and Midlands Technical College, to create educational opportunities. With this kind of support, and the location, South Carolina is an ideal location for our second office.
GQA’s Fall 2010 Newsletter
Posted by asantiago on Oct 12, 2010 at 09:42 AM
Our latest newsletter has been published and distributed today. Download the PDF version if you would like to print it. The articles in the newsletter will be in subsequent blog posts.
October Training & Website Update
Posted by asantiago on Aug 13, 2010 at 12:45 PM
October Training is Filling up
If you are interested in attending our October training classes, you will need to reserve your seat soon! The classes are almost full, with more seats being reserved each week. This is our last set of training classes we currently have scheduled for the year, and I would hate for you to miss your chance! Sign up today.
Small Updates for the GQA Website
If you take a look at our website you will notice some new sections to the right-hand sidebar:
During the June 17, 2010 NRC Workshop held in New Orleans, LA, the NRC stated that Reg. Guide 1.2
Posted by asantiago on Jul 22, 2010 at 09:49 AM
During the June 17, 2010 NRC Workshop held in New Orleans, LA, the NRC stated that Reg. Guide 1.28 Revision was issued June 2010. Reg. 1 28 Rev. 4 endorses NQA-1 2008 and the NQA-1a-2009 Addenda. Reg. Guide 1.28 Rev. 4 extends the scope of the NRC’s endorsement to include NQA-1 Part II (this was previously NQA-2), “Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications”. The previous Reg. Guide 1.28 Rev. 3 endorsed NQA-1 -1983 through the NQA-1a-1983 Addenda. Reg. Guide 1.28 Rev. 4 extended the scope of the NRD’s endorsement to include NQA-1 Part II which contains amplifying Quality Assurance requirements for certain specific work activities that occur at various stages of a facility’s life. These activities include but are not limited to management, planning, site investigation, design, computer software, commercial grade dedication, procurement, fabrication, installation, inspection and testing.
Part I and Part II requirements included in NQA-1-2008 and the NQA-1a-2009 Addenda, “Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications for the implementation of a Quality Assurance program during design and construction phases of nuclear power plants and fuel reprocessing plants are acceptable to the NRC Staff and provide an adequate basis for complying with the requirements of 10CFR50 Appendix B, subject to the additions and modifications of NQA-1-2008 and the NQA-1a-2009 Addenda.
Available for Download:
We at Global Quality Assurance (GQA) are here to assist you, if you have questions.
Kind Regards,
Johnnie Poston
Quality Assurance Manager
or
Phone: (888) 322-3330
Fax: (800) 308-6217
Note from CEO regarding NUPIC Vendor meeting
Posted by asantiago on Jul 09, 2010 at 02:01 PM
NUPIC Vendor Meeting Summary June 2010
Dear Client and Friends,
Global Quality Assurance, Inc. (GQA) representatives attended the NUPIC Vendor Meeting held on June 15-16, 2010 in New Orleans, LA. The NUPIC Vendor Meeting was followed by a one day NRC Workshop in which there were more than 500 people in attendance. If you did not attend the June meeting of nuclear industry experts from the nuclear utilities, NRC, and suppliers, I would encourage you to do so in the future. This is one of the very few opportunities that you and I, as suppliers to the industry, have to find out who is doing what, where the concerns are, and how the industry plans to deal with it.
For your convenience, we have included the informative presentations on our web site, which you can access by clicking here.
A few of the presentations I particularly recommend viewing are:
- NUPIC Perspective by John Larson
- NRC Report by Rich McIntyre
- Report on Vogtle Plant by John Giddens
- Report on Calvert Cliffs Plant by Mark Harvey
We are thankful that our nuclear colleagues have decided to be transparent and supportive in this manner so that we can all succeed.
Please let Johnnie Poston, our QA Manager, or me know if you have any questions on the presentation copies NUPIC provided. I hope we see you at the NUPIC Vendor Meeting in June of 2011.
Kind Regards,
Debbie Borland
Global Quality Assurance and Amidyne Group form Strategic Alliance
Posted by asantiago on Jun 17, 2010 at 04:11 PM
Global Quality Assurance, Inc. (GQA) is pleased to announce a strategic alliance with Versatile Measuring Instruments, Inc. (VMI), a subsidiary of Amidyne Group based in Newmarket Canada. GQA, a State of Florida Corporation established in 2001. is a provider of Quality Assurance Audit, Survey, Training, Consulting, Engineering and new nuclear program development services for the nuclear power industry and its suppliers worldwide. VMI is an Instrumentation Manufacturer that also provides Reverse Engineering, Seismic Qualification and Commercial Grade Dedication for the nuclear power industry. Their 3’x3’ triaxial seismic simulation table has a 10,000 lb capability and can operate with ZPA up to 30 g and frequencies up to 200 Hz. Further, the VMI Engineering team is proficient in the EPRI 5652 dedication process to support dedication services.
VMI has served the nuclear industry in Canada for over 40 years and entered the US nuclear market 2 years ago. Their quality program satisfies Canadian and US standards such as 10CFR50 Appendix B and ASME-NQA-1.
GQA’s team of nuclear certified lead auditors have audited the VMI nuclear quality program and found their processes to be effectively implemented. This audit report and checklist is available free of charge for GQA clients use, to place VMI on their approved suppliers list.
With GQA implementing numerous nuclear programs worldwide, this alliance give our clients and the nuclear industry a reliable, dependable, technically competent and reasonably priced supplier for equipment seismic qualifications and commercial grade item dedication.
Please contact GQA directly at 888.322.3330 to get a copy of the audit as a bases for Versatile Measuring Instruments approval.
http://www.amidyne.com http://www.gqainc.com
New Classes Scheduled for July!
Posted by asantiago on May 24, 2010 at 04:10 PM
Good Afternoon,
I wanted to take a quick minute to let you know we just scheduled a new set of training courses for July. Due to the popularity of our Internal/External Auditor class, our July 12-14, 2010 class filled up in May. Because of the high demand, we decided to create another set of classes that will be held one week later. If you were unable to get into our July 12-14, 2010 class, you can now sign up for Internal/External Auditor Training to be held July 19-23, 2010. Since we know you like to get your training out of the way in one week, we are also including a Commercial Grade Item Dedication training class July 22-23, 2010.
Our normal rates apply. These dates have not been included on the website yet, but will be within 48 hours. In the mean time, if you would like to reserve a spot please contact us at or and we will secure your seat. I will let all attendees know as soon as the dates are available on the web site.
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