Quality Assurance at Fermilab
Questions & Answers
Posted: Sept. 8, 2009
Q. How do I know that the work I do achieves the expected results?
A. For each activity you do you should ask yourself the following questions:
- What is the activity that I am about to do?
- Do I know how to do it? Are there written procedures?
- How do I know that what I'm doing is correct and will lead to the expected results?
- What do I need to do if I encounter a problem?
If you don’t know the answers, consult with your supervisor before you start the activity.
Posted: Sept. 8, 2009
Q. What are the practices and written procedures that apply to my work at Fermilab?
A. Every activity and process -- from painting a fire hydrant to creating collisions in the Tevatron -- has different requirements and needs different quality controls. Sometimes your job training, your set of skills and your years of experience ensure the quality of the activities you do. Sometimes written procedures or certification processes exist to make sure that your work leads to the expected result. If you are not sure whether you have all the information to do an activity correctly, check with your supervisor or consult your Quality Assurance Representative.
Posted: Sept. 8, 2009
Q. Who is my Quality Assurance Representative?
A. Each division, section and center has a QAR. Make sure you know your representative. Here is a list of all QARs at Fermilab.
Posted: Sept. 8, 2009
Q. How can Quality Assurance be applied to scientific research?
A. For some areas of scientific research, conventional quality controls may not be appropriate. Fermilab is adopting ANSI/ASQ Z1.13, “Quality Guidelines for Research,” to address the application of quality management to research activities. An interdivisional Fermilab team has drafted “Quality Guidelines for Scientific Research at Fermilab.” The final document will define alternate approaches (such as peer review) for quality management of scientific activities at Fermilab.
Posted: Sept. 8, 2009
Q. What is the Graded Approach and how is it applied to Quality Assurance?
A. Many activities need to be carried out correctly to complete a process successfully. Quality Assurance examines the level of risk posed by each activity to the overall process. The Graded Approach provides a structured way to prioritize all activities according to the risk they pose to the overall process. This allows the laboratory to enhance quality controls for those activities that pose an elevated risk without imposing unnecessary control requirements to activities that pose little or no risk.
Posted: Sept. 8, 2009
Q. Do I need to write procedures for everything I do?
A. Each division, section and center will establish its own documentation requirements. They will apply a graded approach to determine those activities that require documentation and enhanced quality controls at the division/section/center or departmental level. Process managers will identify activities that require written procedures to manage activity risk.