The United States National Contractor Accreditation System

The National Contractors Accreditation System (NCAS) provides a cost-effective means for supplier quality system accreditation and product qualification. NCAS requires a third party to perform assessments and surveys of quality systems and to qualify supplier products. The author describes how NCAS works and how nongovernment consensus standards are used in developing actual operating criteria and procedures. National accreditation criteria are utilized in developing working criteria for semiconductors, sealants, and fastener product areas and process areas such as inspection/test services. This system is intended to be implemented commodity by commodity across the industry using voluntary standards for effective surveillance of suppliers.<>