§ 280.1121 - Preparation for assessment.

(a) Before proceeding with the assessment the Registrar shall conduct, and maintain records of, a review of the request for registration to ensure that:

(1) The requirements for registration are clearly defined, documented, and understood;

(2) Any difference in understanding between the Registrar and the applicant is resolved; and

(3) The Registrar has the capability to perform the registration service with respect to the scope of the registration sought, the location of the applicant's operations, and any special requirements such as the language used by the applicant.

(b) The Registrar shall prepare a plan for its assessment activities to allow for the necessary arrangements to be made.

(c) The Registrar shall nominate a qualified audit team to evaluate all material collected from the applicant and to conduct the audit on its behalf. Experts in the areas to be assessed may be attached to the Registrar's team as advisers.

(d) The fastener manufacturer shall be informed of the names of the members of the audit team who will carry out the assessment, with sufficient notice to appeal against the appointment of any particular auditors or experts.

(e) The audit team shall be formally appointed and provided with the appropriate working documents. The plan for and the date of the audit shall be agreed to by the fastener manufacturer. The mandate given to the audit team shall be clearly defined and made known to the fastener manufacturer, and shall require the audit team to examine the structure, policies, and procedures of the Facility and the quality assurance system it employs, and confirm that these meet all the requirements relevant to the scope of registration, and that the procedures are implemented and are such as to give confidence in the products, processes, or services of the Facility being evaluated.