Section 3 Approval

301. Notification and announcement of approval

1. After satisfactory completion of the documentation assessment and plant audit in 201. and 202. above, the Society is to issue the Approval Certificate for Quality Assurance System such as FORM AC-4 in Annex 4 and send it to the applicant.

2. The Society announces the manufacturers who have been granted quality assurance system certifi- cation in the “List of Approved Manufacturer & Type Approved Equipment” containing the types of products and the main conditions of approval.

302. Validity of the certificate

1. The Approval Certificate for Quality Assurance System will be valid for three years from the date of issue. In case where the approval certificate is reissued in accordance with the requirements specified in the preceding 205., the expiration date will not be changed.

2. This approval maintains its validity under the acceptance of periodical audit in 203. above.

3. The manufacturer who intends to have a continuation of the approval is to submit an application to the Society three months before the due date together with the contents of the alteration if there is any alteration to the manufacturing facilities and to the quality assurance systems.

4. Where for operational reasons, the renewal audit falls outside the period of approval, the manu- facturer will still be considered as approved if agreement to this audit date is made within the pe- riod of three months after expiry of the validity, in this instance if successful, the extension of ap- proval will be back dated to the original renewal date.

303. Suspension and withdrawal of certification

1. When non-conformities in the approved quality assurance system are found, or when conditions for

the issuing

of the certificate or those for its maintenance have deteriorated, the manufacturer is to non-

correct the conformities. Such corrections are to be verified by the Society. In case corrective not

actions are

taken within the specified period, the Society may suspend the approved certificate

for a given period. In case the corrective actions are not taken for the suspended period, the Society may withdraw the approval of quality assurance system.

2. The Society can withdraw the approval of a quality assurance system if any of the following con- ditions happens:

(1) When important changes having significant effect on the quality system is not communicated to the Society.

(2) When the periodical, occasional or renewal audit is not carried out in the relevant period.

(3) When a request for withdrawal is made by the manufacturer.

(4) When the approval fees are not paid.

(5) When considered inappropriate for approved condition by the

3. Society.

When the approval is withdrawn, the manufacturer is to return the acceptance marking seal(ICSQ)

4. to the Society.

A manufacturer whose approval has been withdrawn, may apply for re-approval provided that the reasons which resulted in cancellation are corrected, and the Society is to issue the approval certifi-

5. cate after it is confirmed that the corrective action has effectively been implemented.

Where an application for re-approval is made for product which had its quality assurance system

approval withdrawn, such application shall be handled according to initial quality assurance system approval requirements. But, it may be considered as exceptional case in case where the Society

304. Change in the quality assurance system

1. In case of any change of the company organization, the quality manual, etc. having effect on the

244 Guidance for Approval of Manufacturing Process and Type Approval, Etc. 2015

quality system, it is to be promptly communicated by the manufacturer to the Society. Especially, important changes having significant effect on the approved quality system is as follows:

(1) Overall alteration or abolition of the quality manual, etc.

(2) Alteration of major management (owner, director's committee, etc.)

(3) Alteration of organization (consolidation of the quality system, etc.)

(4) Alteration, abolition and transfer of the manufacturing process(machining, construction, etc.), ma- jor facilities and manufacturing survey arrangement defined in quality manual

305. Handling after approval (permission of manufacturer's tests and inspection)

1. The manufacturer's tests and inspections in accordance with the approved quality assurance system

granted by the Society may be allowed partially or

2. The person in charge of manufacturing survey is Society's satisfaction, to manage the manufacturing

wholly.

to be qualified and to have experience to the survey arrangement, to survey, to make records

and to control the acceptance marking seal provided by the Society, and not to be affected for

quality control by the managements. The experience of the person in charge of the manufacturing survey arrangement is to be not less than one year as a person in charge of quality control at the works and the person is recommended to complete the quality education course of the Society or equivalent.

3. The person in charge of manufacturing survey is to carry out the tests and inspections according to the approved manufacturing survey arrangement, and mark the accepted products with the descrip- tions given and the seal(ICSQ) provided by the Society. However, for products where marking on them is difficult such as fire protection materials, welding materials, etc., they may be marked with the mark of approval by the Society at a suitable position on them or their packing materials.

4. The person in charge of manufacturing survey is to submit the reports, recorded manufacturing number, final test date, major description, test results, etc., and approval certificate, made on his own, to the Society. When satisfactory with the submitted reports and certificate, the Society give the certificate to the manufacturer after stamping the endorsement seal. However, for the products whose inspection is not required after approval, such as fire protection materials, welding materials, etc., the submission of their reports and certificate is exempted.

5. Regardless of the survey delegation, the Society may directly issue the product certificate upon wit- nessing of the test in case one of the followings is concerned.

(1) The customer especially requests

(2) There is any problem with the quality of certified products

6. Confirmation survey : confirmation survey should be carried out to the Procedure for maintaining ICS Quality Assurance System.

at least once in a year according

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