According to Nadcap OP 1111, suppliers can receive merit status once they meet certain criteria. Merit allows suppliers to have longer periods of time between reaccreditation audits, ranging from 18 months to two years.
For those that go through the audit process each year, this may be seen as a way to save on costs by avoiding preparation and accreditation costs. Unfortunately, depending on how your organization is structured and supported, gaining merit may not always be beneficial.
The Nadcap merit program allows Nadcap accredited suppliers to reduce their audit frequency to every 18 months, or if you meet certain criteria, every 24 months. Here are the requirements for each.
To earn the 18-month merit, you must have earned your first accreditation and be on your second reaccreditation audit. In other words, you must be on your third consecutive audit without losing your original accreditation at a minimum to earn the 18-month merit.
During this third audit, you need to meet the following criteria:
To earn the 24-month merit, you must first earn the 18-month merit. Then, you must be reaccredited with that 18-month merit twice. Once you’ve done that, you can earn the 24-month merit if you meet the following criteria:
It’s important to note that all requirements for the 18-month merit still apply to the 24-month merit as well.
Once merit is achieved, the challenge typically lies in maintaining the existing quality system to ensure conformance. I have seen suppliers get too relaxed with their daily quality assignments, and then NCRs will be discovered during the next Nadcap audit. This is especially the case for suppliers that have a 24-month merit.
This means that merit status may not be good for every supplier. It really depends on whether your organization can maintain conformance without the added pressure of a yearly audit.
I recommend that anyone who has earned the 18-month or 24-month merit treat their quality system as if it will be audited every 12 months. Performing internal audits every 12 months can also be helpful, which requires constant review of documentation along with consistent testing and verification of production cycles.
If your organization needs support with Nadcap accreditation, earning merit or maintaining compliance with merit for heat treatment, Conrad Kacsik can help. We have the expertise and training that can ensure you can meet the most demanding industry standards. Talk to an expert today.