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As a plant engineer, nothing is more important than quality control inspections of your modular systems and process plant—except for commissioning inspections, perhaps. Both are involved with the assessment of the production process of modular skids. Quality control inspections are critical and so are commissioning inspections, but what makes these two processes different? Is there any overlap between them? Find out how these two processes are different and why they are so important for your plant engineering project right here.

What is quality control for modular skids?

Quality control is an inspection process that certifies the equipment has been installed correctly. This process comes before commissioning and is the first part of the successful operation and functioning of a modular skid. 

What is the QA process and how does it relate to QC inspections?

QA means quality assurance. The quality assurance process involves QC inspections to ensure the installation meets quality standards, industry standards, the client specifications, and is of a good quality during the process of building systems for process plant engineering.

What does quality control inspection involve?

Quality control involves process improvement in relation to the owner’s project requirements via quality checks listed in a document.  What’s more, quality assurance involves enhancing the product’s quality, helping finished products and manufactured products to be installed without errors during installation. Quality control inspections involve assessing the installation quality as building systems take place, which is why testing is often a part of the quality control of modular skids. 

Who monitors quality inspections?

Now, quality requirements must be met by a QC team who will ensure compliance is fulfilled, and a commissioning agent will review the QA QC documentation after the QC inspections to ensure compliance is met.  Before a commissioning agent assesses the systems, QC quality assurance will address issues with installation, take preventive action to prevent recurrence of any problems, enhance the efficiency of energy use, and ensure the installation matches the design requirements. For modular skids, the quality requirements will be assessed by an automation and piping expert, such as DG-SKID. The service is part of the installation, commissioning and maintenance process, ensuring the equipment meets the required quality. And although the quality of some providers of modular skids will vary depending on the size of the project, DG-SKID provides exceptional quality to all clients in terms of quality management, inspection, and testing systems.

What is commissioning for modular skids?

The commissioning process is a quality focused process in relation to the functioning of the equipment for modular skids. These procedures ensure that the equipment works as it is supposed to work, which might include assessing whether control systems function or whether PLCs (programmable logic controllers) work as they should for their intended purpose as part of a final inspection done by a commissioning team. Regulatory requirements form a part of the commissioning process for modular skids, just as they are for building commissioning for existing buildings, such as for lighting controls and equipment or the reduction of energy consumption in building operation.

What is the main objective of commissioning inspections?

A commissioning inspection’s main objective is to ensure that exceptional and dependable operating conditions are achieved, while matching the owner’s project requirements. Commissioning requires a whole team to carry this out and achieve this main objective, ensuring clients’ projects pass the requirements of the commissioning authority and commissioning inspections. 

What does commissioning inspection involve?

The commissioning process and inspection is considered a quality focused process. The process focuses on putting together the proper documentation that assesses the planning, the design phase, installation, testing, operation, and maintenance phases. The complex commissioning process involves and incorporates a transition between the construction phase to the commissioning process. It involves using the right documentation, which can reduce the complexity of the commissioning process. Commissioning can be thought of as a quality management system framework—as a formalized system that helps assess the functioning of the components and ensure there are no operational problems.  The overall process that involves commissioning inspections therefore include an inspection that is outlined in the pre-commissioning checklists that reinforce the quality management system, boost indoor environmental quality, and enhance occupant safety. 

What is on a pre-commissioning checklist?

On the pre-commissioning checklist, a commissioning team might see that a valve needs to be tested or a motor needs to be initiated or started up. For the motor, it might be the case that tests need to be done to assess the rotation as part of the commissioning process. For the valve, pressure testing might be required prior to the start up. The pressure testing ensures the valves function correctly.

Which checklists does the transition to commissioning inspection process include?

In addition to pre-commissioning checklists, you’ll also notice that mechanical completion checklists and test plans for inspection are used during the transition between the construction phase and the commissioning process. Mechanical completion checklists correspond to the inspections that will be done by a commissioning team after handover has taken place from the construction team.

Quality control and commissioning services

Once your construction team hands over to the commissioning agent, and the commissioning inspections begin, this is just the beginning of a top quality process. Testing and ongoing quality must be maintained, which might seem like a new process for your project team every time inspections begin. But your project can be completed and process improvement can enhance your system, so testing equipment is crucial. Start up your plant engineering system with confidence and ensure that all your inspections are completed, point to quality, meet all specifications, and that your commissioning inspections are all perfect with DG-SKID. Their ongoing active service for QC inspections and commissioning will give your projects a boost.