What Would You Look For In A TPI Agency?

I will save the inevitable question:

TPI = Third Party Inspector

HaHa, thanks I thought about that, because a couple of years ago, I couldn't for the life of me recall the meaning after seeing some product imported from India, so I asked on CR4. But, duh, I felt about 3" tall after the fact.

Yes, I remember it was pipe consignment you had imported from Wellspun, India.It had marking TPI ........... which had confused you. Problem is that there are local acronyms which are understood by local people. I also hate such acronyms as you break your head guessing the meaning.So it is better to always write full form in brackets.

Good memory, my friend.

And the IT acronyms are the worst for a mechanical guy

One post in particular talks about HDD.

I wondered what Horizontal Directional Drilling had to do with a computer. lol.

Take care and continue to share your knowledge Suresh.

Thanks for your comment.

Suresh.

I worked for one of the biggest names. I don't like them anymore.

Some have testing programs, laboratories, ISO certificate services, quality assurance service, inspections of all kind. Fact is they are on the way to become a new species of monopolists.

Hiring cheap fresh engineers, for technician jobs at gardeners' salaries.

King Solomon eventually died, so we need a odd number to decide? A necessary evil?

On the upside, TPI (third-party inspection) agencies can detect product flaws, and thereby save you from lawsuits. TPI certification can facilitate your marketing efforts.

On the downside, it is possible for a TPI to have an unreasonable expectation, and as a result to condemn a run of products that might not really have a problem. It rankles to have some products torpedoed on inadequate or poorly explained reason.

Because of this, it is paramount that a TPI be knowledgeable, and in particular to explain adverse decisions in an understandable way.

Most such entities I have encountered over the years have been pretty good about this. The problem is that the exceptions can be rather hard to fight.

Our experience with TPIs have been far from satisfactory. And that includes the top ones.

The reason as I can see is

a) Cost undercut to quote.

b) As a corollary to above (may be for me, may be the undercut is for someone else, but the effect is passed on to me too) dilution of qualification. The TPI doing the inspection is not the one exactly fit for the job. As an example is there is a fabricated and machined component, it is usually inspected by one TPI person, whereas the requirements may need qualification in 3 to 4 areas. And expert in fab inspection is rarely an expert in machining inspection, especially in complicated components.

c) Again as a offshoot of above (and as a result of biting more than they can chew) they employ temporary staff (obviously not to their standard, underpayed and since teporary, do not have the reputation as the prime consideration) and subcontracting of the inspection, which is quite difficult to control , since the final stamp is by their staff.

d) The final application intricacies are unknown to them, so they usually look into bushes and miss the trees. The tree for us may be a small herb for them.

Finally it depends on the activity you are outsourcing. If it is simple, it may be OK. For complex, we have now started putting check lists with the key portions clearly demarked.

As one who considers himself a conscientious, knowledgeable, and concerned quality professional, I so agree with your statements.

Sharing on here and with my real life peers, here are the thoughts so far.

So far:
1) Big is no good, either working for them or hiring them.
2) Quality is lacking with the fewer and cheaper hands coming on board.
3) Fitting the inspector to the assignment seems to be rapidly going away.
4) Too many padded resumes and less specific test taking from groups like Bechtel, who insisted in the past or maybe just highly polished paper.

I had to take a tests for Bechtel from European Pressure Equipment directive to business ethics and one for every code out there, or so it seemed.
5) A lot of the agencies could care less about the client, just charge hours and make money.

Considering the huge interest in green and/or alternative energy, I believe that would be a field to check out.

Thanks for all of your input group.