Factory production control
FPC
The documented, permanent internal control of production that a manufacturer must operate to UKCA or CE mark a construction product, certified by a notified body for structural steel under BS EN 1090-1.
Factory production control is the system by which a manufacturer ensures that every product placed on the market matches the declared performance. For structural steelwork under BS EN 1090-1 it is certified by a notified (in the UK, approved) body through an initial inspection of the factory and the FPC, followed by continuous surveillance. The FPC covers the organisation and responsibilities (including the RWC), the quality management system, control of documents, purchasing and material traceability, product specification and drawings, welding and other processes, inspection and testing, control of nonconforming product, corrective action, calibration, handling and storage, and the records that demonstrate all of it.
For a fabricator already running ISO 9001, the FPC is the same system with the welding and traceability requirements of BS EN 1090-2 and BS EN ISO 3834 built in, and the specific document, the Welding Quality Manual, added. The FPC certificate states the execution class, the welding processes and the material groups covered; work outside them cannot be marked. Surveillance visits check that the system is still running: recent WPQRs, welder qualification status, inspection records, the NCR log, calibration certificates and the RWC's presence.
Where it comes from
- BS EN 1090-1 clause 6.3 (factory production control) and Annex B; Construction Products Regulations 2013 (as amended) and the UKCA marking regime; system 2+ assessment and verification of constancy of performance.
Questions people ask
Is FPC certification the same as ISO 9001?
No. ISO 9001 is a general quality management standard certified by a certification body. FPC certification under BS EN 1090-1 is product-specific, by a notified body, and is what allows the UKCA mark. Having ISO 9001 helps because the shape is the same; it does not replace the FPC certificate.
How often is the FPC audited?
Initial inspection, then surveillance typically annually, with the interval set by the notified body according to performance. A significant change (new RWC, new process, higher execution class) needs to be notified and may trigger an extra visit.
Factory production control, handled on a phone
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