Compliance & quality
Compliance & quality documents
How certificates, declarations and quality records like the CoC, CoA, SDS and Declaration of Conformity are structured and what each must contain.
Guides in this topic
Certificate of Conformance (CoC): what it is and how to write one
A Certificate of Conformance is a supplier’s signed statement that what shipped meets the agreed requirements. Here’s what a CoC must state, when it’s required, and a reusable structure you can standardize.
Read the guide →Certificate of Analysis (CoA): what to include and how to format it
A Certificate of Analysis reports the actual tested characteristics of a batch against its specification. Here’s the structure of a clear CoA, how it differs from a CoC, and how to keep the format consistent lot to lot.
Read the guide →Safety Data Sheet (SDS): the 16-section format explained
The Safety Data Sheet follows a fixed 16-section order set by the GHS. Here’s what each section contains, why the order is mandatory, and how to keep an SDS current as classifications change.
Read the guide →Declaration of Conformity explained: what it is, EC vs EU, and how to get one
A Declaration of Conformity is the manufacturer’s own signed statement that a product meets the legislation that applies to it. Here’s what it means, why it is called EC or EU, how it backs CE marking, and how you actually get one.
Read the guide →RoHS declaration of conformity: what it is and what it must state
A RoHS declaration certifies that an electrical or electronic product stays within the restricted-substance limits set by EU Directive 2011/65/EU. Here’s what it covers, the ten restricted substances, and what the declaration must state.
Read the guide →REACH & SVHC declarations: what suppliers must communicate
Under EU REACH, suppliers of articles must communicate when a Substance of Very High Concern is present above 0.1% by weight. Here’s what SVHCs are, the 0.1% threshold, and the duties to inform customers and notify SCIP.
Read the guide →CoC vs CoA: certificate of conformance vs certificate of analysis
A Certificate of Conformance asserts that requirements are met; a Certificate of Analysis reports the measured results. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of what each contains, when each is required, and when you need both.
Read the guide →RoHS vs REACH: how the two regulations differ
RoHS restricts ten substances in electronics; REACH governs chemicals across virtually all products, including SVHC communication. Here’s how their scope, thresholds, and obligations differ, and where they overlap.
Read the guide →First Article Inspection (FAIR) reports and AS9102 explained
A First Article Inspection report proves that a manufacturing process produces a part that meets every requirement on the drawing. Here’s what a FAIR contains, the AS9102 forms, and when a first article is required.
Read the guide →Non-Conformance Report (NCR): documenting and dispositioning defects
A Non-Conformance Report captures a defect, quarantines the affected material, and records the disposition decision. Here’s what an NCR contains, the standard disposition options, and how it links to corrective action.
Read the guide →FMEA explained: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
FMEA is a structured method for identifying how a design or process can fail, how serious each failure is, and where to act first. Here’s how DFMEA and PFMEA work, the S/O/D ratings, and how risk is prioritized.
Read the guide →PPAP: the Production Part Approval Process explained
PPAP is the automotive process for proving a supplier can make a part to requirement, consistently, before mass production. Here’s what the submission contains, the 18 elements, the PSW, and the five submission levels.
Read the guide →Declaration of Conformity vs Certificate of Conformance
A Declaration of Conformity is a manufacturer’s self-declaration against regulation; a Certificate of Conformance is a supplier’s statement against a contract. Here’s the difference, and when you need which.
Read the guide →Control plan: how to control the characteristics that matter
A control plan defines, for every important characteristic, how it is checked and what happens when it drifts. Here’s the structure of a control plan, its phases, and how it connects the FMEA to what actually happens on the line.
Read the guide →