b. Terms. You may hear the term "quality assurance" used synonymously with the term "quality
surveillance;" however, there is a difference in the terms. Quality assurance is the government's program to
determine if the manufacturer has fulfilled contractual obligations as to the correct quantity and quality of product
QA is complete when the product is accepted by the government and becomes government owned. QS, begins
when petroleum products are accepted by the government. Quality surveillance applies to those products in
military pipelines or tankage. It also applies to those government-owned products in commercial pipelines or
leased tankage.
c. Responsibility. Every agency in the supply system that transports, stores, distributes, or issues
petroleum products is responsible for some phase of quality surveillance. Every individual who physically
handles petroleum products shares this responsibility.
(1) CONUS. The petroleum quality assurance representatives of the DLA are responsible for
providing test results on batches product as they are manufactured. The military service having physical
possession of the petroleum products at a GOGO facility is responsible for setting up and maintaining a QS
program as prescribed in MIL-HDBK-200 and AR 703-1. Representatives of the Army Petroleum Center New
Cumberland Army Depot and Defense Depot Tracy, San Francisco, CA monitor the quality surveillance program.
(2) OCONUS. Under provisions of the MIL-HDBK-200, the JPO, is the area coordinator for the
quality surveillance program within its command areas. In turn, each military service within each command is
responsible for setting up and maintaining a quality surveillance program, as well as for maintaining and
operating laboratories required to perform their tests.
e. Importance of QS. Essential characteristics are set up and are published as specifications. The
characteristics listed are quantitative measures of the physical and chemical properties of the product, which,
taken together, are essential to make it appropriate for its intended use. However, these properties depend upon
the composition of the product. Any change in the product may result in such marked changes that the product
becomes unsuitable for its intended use. The issue of unsuitable products to combat units can produce critically
damaging results. Such products could cause the loss of personnel and equipment and might be the deciding
factor in the success or failure of a mission.
f. Classifications of QS. In quality surveillance, petroleum products are classified into one of three
categories:
(1) OG -- the product meets or exceeds all specification requirements.
(2) SFU -- one or more tests on the product fail specification requirements but are within
deterioration/use limits.
(3) NSFU -- one or more tests of the product fail to meet deterioration/use limits.
QM5200
10-2
Previous Page
