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Public Law 101-592, or the Fastener Quality Act (FQA), becomes effective May 26, 1998. Fasteners manufactured after that date, may not be offered for sale in the United States unless they are part of a lot which has been inspected, tested, and certified by an accredited laboratory in accordance with the FQA and its implementing regulations. Fasteners that are “significantly altered” also require testing in an accredited laboratory. As of this writing, it is estimated that approximately 350 laboratories will be accredited in accordance with the FQA at the time of implementation. At the current pace of application and accreditation, the number of laboratories able to perform testing in compliance with the FQA may result in a significant reduction in the availability of fasteners.

Managing the multiple accreditation and registration programs required by industry today requires considerable resources. An analysis of the similarities and differences between programs such as ISO 9000, QS-9000, ARD9000, NADCAP, ISO Guide 25, and the Fastener Quality Act will allow one system to be developed that will meet the multiple requirements of multiple accreditation plans. Understanding the different audit structures and styles of various programs and accreditation bodies allows you to manage the accreditation process instead of you being managed by the accreditation process.