CAC Technical Inspection Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a 'witness point' in a technical inspection plan?
- A location where the contractor signs the delivery receipt
- A designated point in the manufacturing or test process where the acceptance authority must be present before work can continue (Correct answer)
- A physical marking on hardware indicating inspection status
- A meeting point for inspectors at the start of each shift
Correct answer: A designated point in the manufacturing or test process where the acceptance authority must be present before work can continue
A witness point requires the acceptance authority to observe a specific process or test before the contractor is permitted to proceed to the next step, ensuring oversight of critical activities.
Question 2: When performing a dimensional inspection using precision measurement equipment, which practice is essential to ensure measurement accuracy?
- Using equipment calibrated by the inspector personally
- Ensuring all measurement equipment is calibrated to traceable standards and within its calibration interval (Correct answer)
- Measuring each dimension only once to save time
- Relying on the contractor's measurement data without independent verification
Correct answer: Ensuring all measurement equipment is calibrated to traceable standards and within its calibration interval
Calibration to traceable standards (e.g., NIST) within the required interval ensures measurement results are accurate, repeatable, and legally defensible.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes a 'hold point' in technical inspection procedures?
- A mandatory stop in the production process that requires acceptance authority notification and approval before proceeding (Correct answer)
- A temporary suspension of work due to safety concerns
- A point where the contractor places items on hold pending payment
- A scheduled break in the inspection schedule
Correct answer: A mandatory stop in the production process that requires acceptance authority notification and approval before proceeding
A hold point mandates that work stop and the acceptance authority be notified and must approve continuation, providing stronger oversight than a witness point.
Question 4: During acceptance testing of software, what does 'regression testing' verify?
- That new features meet performance benchmarks
- That previously passing tests still pass after changes or fixes have been made to the software (Correct answer)
- That the software meets security penetration standards
- That the software handles peak load conditions
Correct answer: That previously passing tests still pass after changes or fixes have been made to the software
Regression testing confirms that changes to software have not broken previously verified functionality, ensuring stability throughout the development and acceptance process.
Question 5: An acceptance inspector is reviewing weld quality on a structural component. Which nondestructive testing (NDT) method is most appropriate for detecting subsurface cracks?
- Visual inspection
- Dye penetrant testing
- Ultrasonic testing (Correct answer)
- Hardness testing
Correct answer: Ultrasonic testing
Ultrasonic testing (UT) uses high-frequency sound waves to detect internal flaws, making it the appropriate NDT method for subsurface crack detection in welds.
Question 6: What does AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) represent in the context of acceptance sampling?
- The maximum number of inspectors required for a lot
- The worst tolerable average proportion of defectives in a submission that is considered satisfactory for acceptance purposes (Correct answer)
- The minimum score an inspector must achieve on a certification exam
- The total cost threshold for acceptance inspection activities
Correct answer: The worst tolerable average proportion of defectives in a submission that is considered satisfactory for acceptance purposes
AQL defines the poorest quality level that is still considered satisfactory as a process average, setting the threshold for acceptance sampling plan design.
Question 7: When an acceptance inspector identifies a major nonconformance during inspection, which action must occur before the next step in the acceptance process?
- The inspector proceeds and notes the issue in a post-inspection memo
- A formal Corrective Action Request (CAR) is issued and the contractor must respond with a corrective action plan (Correct answer)
- The inspector verbally informs the contractor and continues inspection
- The project manager decides whether to continue without formal documentation
Correct answer: A formal Corrective Action Request (CAR) is issued and the contractor must respond with a corrective action plan
Major nonconformances require a formal CAR to document the finding, require contractor response, and ensure corrective action is tracked to closure.
CAC Technical Inspection Procedures 2
What is the purpose of a 'witness point' in a technical inspection plan?