Product quality assurance is an important part of delivering best value. It can also be crucial to the ability of a programme to keep to its timetable, for the time spent waiting for replacement goods can be hugely detrimental to implementation.
For over 100 years Crown Agents has been internationally recognised as a leading provider of quality assurance and inspection services. We have extensive experience in managing the quality control and pre-shipment inspection process, whether providing these services from our own in-house resources or working with external service providers. Excellence, integrity and independence are the foundations of our service, which is accredited to ISO 9001:2008.
Crown Agents has particular experience in the quality control and inspection of pharmaceuticals, bednets, contraceptives, and medical and laboratory equipment, on behalf of numerous clients including many government development agencies (including DFID), UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, KfW, JICA, PSI, FHI and Futures Group Europe.
Quality assurance for Crown Agents includes assuring both the quality of the procurement processes and the quality of the products to be supplied. Crown Agents' technical staff assure quality by purchasing only from suitably qualified suppliers and ensuring compliance with relevant international and in-country quality standards and requirements. We provide pre-shipment inspection services for goods procured, using our in-house inspection capability.
Our staff are experienced in drafting detailed product specifications, evaluating product documentation, preparing appropriate contract terms, performing or reviewing quality control tests and monitoring supplier performance.
We routinely incorporate inspection procedures into the procurement cycle and our procurement staff work closely with our logistics colleagues to ensure appropriate and efficient shipment, clearance and storage. In this way and by incorporating quality into all elements of the supply chain, we ensure that all items supplied are safe, effective and fit for the purpose for which they are intended.