MIL-PRF- 19500 (Semiconductors), or MIL-PRF-38535 (Microcircuits)] referenced in the contract. 0000005022 00000 n If you cant describe what your organization need on piece of paper then imagine how suppliers can understand your needs, then quote/propose the right solution for it. The size of staff necessary to do Moreover, each test should be written so as to explicitly state the behavior of a conforming implementation. In the event of a dispute or other commercial issues the specification can provide a formal method of identifying what the purchaser wanted against what was delivered. The initial version of the test suite will not include the formatting objects part of XSL; however research is underway to determine how NIST can make a contribution to this part of the specification. According to a study by the Gartner Group[1], the private sector spends over $2.2 trillion on information technology (IT) annually. A QPL is It is well recognized that conformance testing is a way to ensure that "standard-based" products are implemented. Without knowing whats really needed costs can be far higher than required and the solution procured for the business not fit for purpose. Specifications can be attributed in two ways; 1) Attributes - related to things such as the part, component or raw material. In this example, while the mattresses were not required to be tested by a third party laboratory, the mattress manufacturer voluntarily chose to do so and must provide the information about that laboratory. The Procurement cycle is covered extensively within the CIPS . EA performed this assessment at the UPF construction site from January 7 to 10, 2019. Often a hybrid of these is appropriate -- i.e., issuing a certificate for a longer period of time (say 2 years) if no errors are found and for a shorter period (say 1 year) if there are errors. 4) The car shall travel at speeds between 0 and 100 mph. What should a certificate of conformity include? Although the terms validation and conformance testing are often interchanged, they are not the same. legitimate needs. is less interested in dimensions and materials and configurations A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Thanks! It is the basis of all offers and therefore the foundation for a contract. PFi@("$0 (JDbyHA': F$%BIPAl4FP'aFYlO2f)m8c4&3 o7q$e9(#yd: The responsible party has the option to use the certification procedure in place of the SDoC procedure. The difference between the performance dimension and the conformance dimension is that the former is more forward-looking and the later backward-looking. The rationale for an expiration date is that the technology, test suite, and/or specification will probably change and this forces the implementation to be retested. 7. Typically, the sponsor establishes and maintains the program. Portability is the ability to move software programs or applications among different computer systems with minimal change. 2 What are the types of specification in procurement? Conformance with Specification. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. << For example, statements indicating that an implementation "shall," "should," or "may" implement a certain feature. A locked padlock approval for the product offered before bid opening. What we wrote above is based only on our understanding of the regulatory requirements. There are two main types of specification when contracting namely: With this type of specification the buyer says what they want and how they want it and the supplier has to meet this. The XSLT test suite will allow users to customize the test suite to filter out optional category tests. This is a waste of human intellect and simply not good enough. On the one hand, a conformance certificate (or a claim of conformance) might only state that an implementation had been tested to completion, and provide a list of the errors that were found. Conformance tests should be used by implementers early-on in the development process, to improve the quality of their implementations and by industry associations wishing to administer a testing and certification program. 7 What is the definition of quality of conformance? Conformance to specification means to meet the regulatory requirements; Customer needs means to meet the customer reasonable specific requirements. what cost. specification, having been used historically in public developing your specifications, however, Procurement does not Specifications sometimes need to address: Specifications may describe several different ways to accomplish its operation (e.g., a choice of file formats or codes). represents the kind of thinking in which architects and engineers performance specifications afford the manufacturer or bidder Although conformance testing may include some of these kinds of tests, it has one fundamental difference -- the requirements or criteria for conformance must be specified in the standard or specification. A test suite, which is a combination of test software, test procedures and test documentation, is used to check an implementation for conformance to a specification. Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines When BioPreferred and CPG are both required, the agency shall purchase the item that meets the CPG requirements (per FAR 23.405 Procedures (c) and Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, Section 9002 (b)). Conformance to specification means to meet the regulatory requirements; Customer needs means to meet the customer reasonable specific requirements. Extensions shall not re-define semantics for existing functions, Extensions shall not cause standard-conforming functions (i.e., functions that do not use the extensions) to execute incorrectly, The mechanism for determining application conformance and the extensions shall be clearly described in the documentation, and the extensions shall be marked as such. It's easy to subscribe to our newsletter where you'll receive weekly updates for professional importers and manufacturers on better understanding, controlling, and improving manufacturing & supply chain in China, India, Vietnam, and beyond. with the Procurement Officer reserving the final right to This would include the documentation of how the testing is to be done and the directions for the tester to follow. all necessary drawings, dimensions, terms, and There are two main types of specification when contracting namely: #1 CONFORMANCE SPECIFICATION With this type of specification the buyer says what they want and how they want it and the supplier has to meet this Examples of conformance specification are: Engineering drawing A chemical formula Model name, number or brand etc On the other hand, the policy might be that a certificate is issued (or a claim of conformance is made) only if no errors are found. BioPreferred Program - Federal Purchasing. A testing program cannot exist without a test tool or test suite, but a test tool/suite can exist without a testing program. https://www.nist.gov/itl/ssd/information-systems-group/what-thing-called-conformance. 0000066380 00000 n Values that may be different for different conforming implementations of the standard, The color model(s), if any, supported by the standard, Test tool (e.g., tool, suite, and/or reference implementation, Organization(s) to do testing, issue certificates of validation, and arbitrate disputes. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) are addressing XML-related interoperability issues by jointly developing test suites that are intended to complement the W3C Recommendations. specification. Well also examine in more detail the type of CoC you need to import consumer and electronic products into the USA and EU, as well as covering some other points on the topic, too. Lets Start by looking at a Procurement functions relationship with Specifications. service that ill satisfy a particular need at an economical cost These criteria may or may not require implementations to pass 100% of the specifications. compliance with specifications, and (4) provide for an equitable This free eBook shows importers who are new to outsourcing production to China or Vietnam the five key foundations of a proven Quality Assurance strategy, and also shows you some common traps that importers fall intoandhow to avoid or overcome them in order to get the best possible production results. More recently with the advent of the Internet and rapidly changing information technology, the notion of conformance testing has become less formal allowing developers and users to assess for themselves the validity or correctness of the software or data with respect to the relevant specification. Its use is called for where a structure or QUALIFIED PRODUCT LIST (QPL): A This reflects the thinking of the "IOR School" (Insti- tute for Operational Research). The test suite should be platform independent, and should generate repeatable results. For software specifications it is the software that has 'implemented' the specification. definitions of non-standard terms. 0000003930 00000 n These cast blades have to be x-ray checked to ensure no voids or cracks are evident. Conformance means that a product meets the minimum requirements in the standard. Also, what is the difference between conformance specification and performance specification? Conformance Specification (Technical) which focuses on inputs and provides specific details of what the product/service should consist of, and how the product should be manufactured as well as what materials and process should be followed. [Importers Guide], What is a certificate of conformity (CoC). 2. These criteria and Although conformance testing is not a guarantee for interoperability, it is an essential step towards achieving interoperability. Acceptance/rejection of such item needed will be according to the performance stated in the specification With performance specs, it will take more time for the procurement process as you may get totally different proposals and you need to discuss and validate them internally; however it opens the door for innovation as suppliers are free to suggest any workable solution which may improve functionality, cost & to be more sustainable option it's very suitable in case requesting department is not very well established so that you will be depending on suppliers' experience. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. /Filter /LZWDecode The sponsor has a fundamental interest in ensuring the success of the program. Nevertheless, the larger and more varied the set of inputs is, the more confidence can be placed in an implementation whose testing generates no errors. Deviation in delivery period shall be considered if such deviation is reasonable.6.1. Some importers choose to purchase components for their new products that are already certified to avoid needing to go through the testing and certification process. A reference implementation is an implementation of a standard that is by definition conformant to that standard. This nesting continues until level n, which consists of the entire specification. Supplier Resources. should be put on notice that the criteria used to define It is important to note that certification cannot exist without validation, but validation can exist without certification. The procedures should also contain information on what must be done operationally when failures occur. These assertions are statements of functionality or behavior derived from the standard, and which are true for conforming implementations. PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS: The terms products are equal and this basis must be predicated upon Since the purposes for 2. Typically, level 1 is the basic core of the specifications that must be implemented by all products. The understanding is that an implementation that is determined to satisfy each assertion will be considered to be in conformance to the standard. However, this is generally impossible for implementations of nontrivial specifications that are written in a natural language. 6 What makes a good specification in procurement? In essence, specifications are about communication and the exchange of information between the Customer, the designer, the contractor and all stakeholders in the project. "functional" and "performance" are used The success here will obviously depend on how you frame your specifications. Procurement has final responsibility for the competitiveness and As a procurement professional . 0000004956 00000 n The documentation should be detailed enough so that testing of a given implementation can be repeated with no change in test results. qualified product list (QPL) is a specification based on And just as important, why is this important? Others have qualified third party testing laboratories that apply the test suite according to the established policies and procedures. b. DEFINITIONS 2.1 Centroidal Area. An XSL stylesheet is used to generate an XML Conformance Test Report, which includes background information on conformance testing for XML and information that is useful in determining that each test is traceable back to the Recommendation. The ECMAScript suite allows the user to select a category of tests from a drop down menu. conformity testing - conformity assessment by means of testing. Similarly, validation cannot exist without a test suite, but a test suite can exits without validation. For ensure testability of a specification/standard, care should be taken in the wording of the specifications itself. The problem here however is the chance that the person who raised the requisition may well change their mind or refine the specification as quotes begin to arrive. Validation is the process of testing software for compliance with applicable specifications or standards. The alternative is falsification testing, which subjects an implementation to various combinations of legal and illegal inputs, and compares the resulting output to a set of corresponding "expected results." Importers of some consumer electronic products that intentionally or non-intentionally emit radiation between 9kHz to 3,000 GHz radio frequency range including personal computers, fans, power stations for devices, LED lights, TV remotes, etc, into the USA must issue a Suppliers Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) which is supported by lab tests that may or may not be performed by an FCC-recognized and accredited lab as long as the testing is correct according to the standards (or may also choose to get the product certified as described above in some cases). The conformance clause may specify sets of functions, which may take the form of profiles, levels, or other structures. Purchase Requisition 1 - A poor undetailed specification "I want something to eat my dinner with". Nevertheless, the larger and more varied the set of inputs is, the more confidence can be placed in an implementation whose testing generates no errors. % In essence this is less rigid than conformance specification. The process for developing conformance test suites begins with defining the set of test assertions (TA) upon which the test suite is based. I like the point about cost only .. Decisions are differentiated according to whether they concern day-by-day issues or broader plans. The other approach adopts the weaker overall requirement that, while extensions are allowed, an implementation must perform all the functionality in the specifications exactly as specified. ISO/IEC Guide 2[2] defines conformance (also referred to as conformity) as the fulfillment of a product, process, or service of specified requirements. specifications customarily employ dimensional and other physical This blog is written by Renaud Anjoran, an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer who has been involved in chinese manufacturing since 2005. defined in the bid invitation. and more interested in what a product does. Procurement serves as the primary Falsification testing subjects an implementation to various combinations of legal and illegal inputs, and compares the resulting output to a set of corresponding "expected results." 0000001477 00000 n in-house terminology. to a single product and is the most restrictive kind of The responsible party, who must be located in the United States, is not required to file an equipment authorization application with the Commission or a TCB. The testing program should strive to be as impartial and objective as possible, i.e., to remove subjectivity of both the procedures and the testing tools. These extensions may eventually migrate into future versions of the standard. Hit the button below: Filed Under: Certifications Tagged With: certificate of conformity, coc, critical products, customs, high risk products, product conformity, standards. The CoC can either be requested by a buyer to ensure the product being manufactured has been tested and passes the set criteria within a specification and meets both technical and safety requirements,or it would be a mandatory requirement as stated by country regulations and law for certain products, such as Bluetooth devices being sold in the USA. Early stage specifications can be seen as part of the review with the customer (internal or external) about what they are looking to achieve on the project. It will be super helpful to build on that. Conformance testing (also called conformity assessment) is a way of verifying implementations of a specification to determine whether or not deviations from the specification exist. Vendors should be provided the Definitions - what is conformance (to a standard)? specifications; brand-name-or-equal specifications; design Greater share of specification risk is borne by the supplier. Does it come from a particularly influential stake-holder? Product List (QPL). If the criteria or requirements for conformance are not specified, there can be no conformance testing. Give examples of performance specification. Some recent standards include, as official parts of the standard, lists of assertions. A good specification should do four things: (1) 0000003961 00000 n or other required characteristics should be clearly However, the responsible party or any other party marketing the equipment must provide a test report and other information demonstrating compliance with the rules upon request by the Commission. Environment working temperature is between 15C 40C. tests or other criteria for comparing, examining and approving predicated on a written specification which includes certain Conformance Clause Every specification SHALL contain a conformance clause. It will include: Finding examples on the internet is easy. The main reason a CoC is required at customs is to prove a product that the product being imported meets the required standard(s). The test software, consisting of a set of test files (i.e., data, programs, or scripts) checks each requirement in the specification to determine whether the results produced by the implementation match the expected results, as defined by the specification. ANSI/BIFMA standards are go-to references when evaluating the safety and durability of furniture products during the specification and procurement process. procurement program and to evaluate the implementation of quality assurance (QA) program requirements that ensure that the appropriate structural concrete meeting approved concrete specifications is used in the UPF construction activities. Development of the test suite may well be the costliest part of the conformance program. award at the lowest possible cost. suitability of specifications, Procurement cannot initiate or If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. As a practical matter, the board is usually comprised of representative from the testing laboratories and representatives from the standards body. (If the specifications don't describe the different approaches in the first place, then it's an implementer detail irrelevant to conformance.). In order to test that a specification is faithfully adhered to, one must carefully examine the specification and compare the implementation's result against the syntax and semantics contained in the specification. The term "optional" is used to indicate that if an implementation is going to provide the specified functionality, then the specification must be followed. Developers/Customers often complain that Scope Creep occurred during a project. In the marketplace, conformance test suites and consequently conformance testing provides a vehicle for exchanging information between buyer and seller. At the end of the 1-year period, the implementer would have to correct the errors to renew the certificate. What is the definition of quality of conformance? Each TA should be as simple as possible and narrowly focused on an atomic (simple) functionality, must not contradict another TA, and must have some testable consequence. products of a particular manufacturer as having the This button displays the currently selected search type. Design specifications are an interpretation of what the customer needs. Dimension of the box Length, Width & Height. Conformance testing (also called conformity assessment) is a way of verifying implementations of a specification to determine whether or not deviations from the specification exist. What is the difference between conformance specification and performance specification? The objective is to produce tests for as many of the specification's requirements as feasible and use these tests to find errors in the implementation. 0000066460 00000 n DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS: Design We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Typically, a design conforms to requirements and work products conform to both design and requirements. performance, quality or essential characteristics must be Sensor installation and measurement location specifications, performance and equipment specifications, test procedures, and data reduction procedures are included in this specification. Speaking generally, one is the specification that competition consistent with seeking overall economy for the Equipment that only contains digital circuitry (does not contain a radio transmitter) such as computer peripherals, microwave ovens consumer ISM equipment, switching power supplies, LED light bulbs, radio receivers and TV interface devices are subject to approval using the SDoC procedure or may optionally use the certification procedure. Conformance testing (also called conformity assessment) is a way of verifying implementations of a specification to determine whether or not deviations from the specification exist. Conformance test suites increases the probability that software products that claim to conform to a specification are implemented correctly. 2) Actions - related to things such as functions, processes, ,procedures, services, performance. Dont forget that in order to affix the CE mark to your product and get the EU DoC you will need to create and submit the technical documentation that demonstrates that your product complies with EU regulations. Taking the time to think, write & challenge what your internal customer need is one of the most important keys to have efficient, smooth, transparent & successful procurement process. With any standard or specification, eventually the discussion turns to "how will we know if an implementation or application conforms to our standard or specification?" 9 0 obj Sometimes, its really challenging to collect/get what your organization need .. even after sending the Tender/RFQ package, suppliers sometimes come back to you and comment Its not really clear for us whats required ? Sensor installation and measurement location specifications, performance and equipment specifications, test procedures, and data reduction procedures are included in this specification. The Java test suite contains over 200 tests and covers the fundamental and extended interfaces of the DOM Level 1 Recommendation. Notwithstanding this spending, 50% to 70% of all major software projects fail due to software quality and interoperability problems. Examples of conformance specification; sizable latitude in how to accomplish the end purpose. Elements that should typically be included in a CoC are: On the US CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) website, one can find several samples of CoCs. Conformance Test Suites for XML Technologies. The work is accomplished under the auspices of OASIS Technical Subcommittees, with contributions from OASIS member companies and in close coordination with the appropriate W3C Working Groups. 4M%m8Kxq@D0P- E62e(S4O#?s3,!Ms%iTZa5 @!.MOzNRU!+9nI purpose intended. This approach, used in both the Public and Private sectors is best described Chartered MCIPS. Generally, the more critical the application, the more formal the testing. It is generally inspected during customs clearance if the product being imported requires it. specifications may not be unduly restrictive. both product and price competition requires that specifications The buyer uses the results of the testing to verify that a seller provides a product that conforms to the specification and meet procurement requirements. In addition, it requires high level of maturity of internal requesting customer department. Failure to pass a test implies failure to conform. a. 0000005716 00000 n Its use will not be permitted unless only one It, in turn, refers to other parts of the specification for details. 2) The car shall have a really kickin stereo system. is characteristic of construction or personal services contracts. Once the item is delivered the specification can be used to compare the delivered item to what was ordered. ISO/IEC Guide 2 also mentions that "Typical examples of conformity assessment activities are sampling, testing and inspection; evaluation, verification and assurance of conformity (supplier's declaration, certification); registration, accreditation and approval as well as their combinations.". Buyer requires conformance to the Specification. arrived at by a systematic and formal process. QualityInspection.org does not present this information as a basis for you to make decisions, and we do not accept any liability if you do so. a specification should be written to encourage, not discourage, 0000007885 00000 n Conformance testing provides software developers and users assurance and confidence that the conforming product behaves as expected, performs functions in a known manner, or possesses a prescribed interface or format. this would be prohibitive. What are the types of specification in procurement? A specification is often a type of technical standard. Well explain what a CoC is, what its used for, and what it includes. The conformance clause is a part or collection of parts of a specification that defines the requirements, criteria, or conditions that shall be satisfied by an implementation in order to claim conformance. There are different types of technical or engineering specifications (specs), and the term is used differently in different technical contexts.