CAC Technical Inspection Procedures 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a pre-inspection meeting in an acceptance inspection process?
- To finalize payment terms with the contractor
- To align all parties on inspection scope, criteria, and procedures before the inspection begins (Correct answer)
- To train the contractor's staff on acceptance standards
- To document deficiencies found in previous inspections
Correct answer: To align all parties on inspection scope, criteria, and procedures before the inspection begins
A pre-inspection meeting ensures all stakeholders share a common understanding of the inspection's scope, criteria, and procedures to avoid disputes during the inspection.
Question 2: Which document serves as the baseline reference for determining whether a product or system has met acceptance criteria during a technical inspection?
- The contractor's internal quality plan
- The Statement of Work (SOW) and associated specifications (Correct answer)
- The inspector's personal checklist
- The project schedule
Correct answer: The Statement of Work (SOW) and associated specifications
The Statement of Work and associated specifications define the contractual requirements against which acceptance inspectors measure compliance.
Question 3: During a physical inspection of delivered hardware, an acceptance inspector discovers a dimension that falls outside the specified tolerance. What is the most appropriate immediate action?
- Accept the item and note the deviation in the final report
- Immediately reject the entire shipment without further review
- Document the nonconformance and issue a discrepancy report for disposition (Correct answer)
- Request the contractor re-inspect the item internally
Correct answer: Document the nonconformance and issue a discrepancy report for disposition
Documenting the nonconformance and issuing a discrepancy report follows proper procedure, allowing for formal disposition (accept, rework, reject) through the defined process.
Question 4: What does 'First Article Inspection' (FAI) specifically verify?
- That the production process can consistently produce conforming units
- That the contractor has submitted the required documentation
- That the first unit produced meets all drawing and specification requirements before full production begins (Correct answer)
- That the quality management system is certified to ISO 9001
Correct answer: That the first unit produced meets all drawing and specification requirements before full production begins
FAI verifies that the first production unit fully conforms to all design documentation requirements, confirming the manufacturing process is capable before committing to full production.
Question 5: Which sampling method involves selecting items at predetermined intervals from a production lot during an acceptance inspection?
- Stratified sampling
- Systematic sampling (Correct answer)
- Judgmental sampling
- Cluster sampling
Correct answer: Systematic sampling
Systematic sampling selects items at regular, predetermined intervals (e.g., every 10th unit) from the lot, providing a practical and unbiased sampling approach.
Question 6: An Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP) is best described as:
- A contractor's internal test plan not shared with the government
- A documented set of step-by-step instructions used to verify that a deliverable meets specified requirements (Correct answer)
- A list of all personnel authorized to perform acceptance activities
- A financial audit document for tracking inspection costs
Correct answer: A documented set of step-by-step instructions used to verify that a deliverable meets specified requirements
An ATP provides step-by-step instructions that acceptance personnel follow to objectively verify each requirement, ensuring consistency and traceability in the acceptance process.
Question 7: In acceptance inspection, what is the significance of maintaining a clear 'chain of custody' for test samples?
- It determines the payment schedule for the contractor
- It ensures the integrity and traceability of samples from collection through testing to prevent tampering or substitution (Correct answer)
- It establishes which personnel are allowed on the inspection floor
- It satisfies continuing education requirements for inspectors
Correct answer: It ensures the integrity and traceability of samples from collection through testing to prevent tampering or substitution
Chain of custody documentation ensures sample integrity and provides a traceable record of who handled a sample and when, which is critical for defensible inspection results.
CAC Technical Inspection Procedures 1
What is the primary purpose of a pre-inspection meeting in an acceptance inspection process?