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implemented to ensure that the results of the work performed will satisfy the stated performance criteria.
The QAPP components are divided into four classes: 1) Project Management, 2) Measurement/Data
Acquisition, 3) Assessment/Oversight, and 4) Data Validation and Usability.
Quality Control (QC)
- The overall system of technical activities that measures the attributes and
performance of a process, item, or service against defined standards to verify that they meet the stated
requirements; operational techniques and activities that are used to fulfill requirements for quality.
Quality Management Plan (QMP)
- A formal document that describes the MERC quality system. It is
the “blueprint” that defines MERC’s QA policies and procedures; the criteria for and areas of QA
application; and the different QA-related roles, responsibilities, and authorities of personnel.
Quality System
- A structured and documented management system describing the policies, objectives,
principles, organizational authority, responsibilities, accountability, and implementation plan of an
organization for ensuring quality in its work processes, products (items), and services. The quality system
provides the framework for planning, implementing, and assessing work performed by the organization
and for carrying out required quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC).
Quality system audit -
An on-site review of the implementation of a verification organization's quality
system as documented in the approved QMP. This review is used to verify the existence of, and evaluate
the adequacy of, the internal quality system. It is the qualitative assessment of data collection operations
and/or organization(s) to evaluate the adequacy of the prevailing quality management structure, policies,
practices, and procedures for obtaining the type and quality of data needed.
Raw data -
All data and information recorded in support of analytical and process measurements made
during planning, testing, and assessing environmental technology including records such as: computer
printouts, instrument run charts, standards preparation records, field log records, technology operation
logs, and monitoring records.
Record
- A statement of data and facts pertaining to a specific event, process, or product, that provides
objective evidence that an activity has occurred. All books, papers, maps, photographs, machine readable
materials, or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics made or received
by MERC. Examples include raw and summary data tables, data notebooks, audit reports, and meeting
minutes.
Repeatability
- The degree of agreement between independent test results produced by the same analyst,
using the same test method and equipment on random aliquots of the same sample within a short time
period.
Representativeness
- A measure of the degree to which data accurately and precisely represent a
characteristic of a population, a parameter variation at a sampling point, a process condition, or an
environmental condition.
Sensitivity
- The capability of a method or instrument to discriminate between measurement responses
representing different levels of a variable of interest
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- A written document that details the method for an operation,
analysis, or action with thoroughly prescribed techniques and steps and that is officially approved as the
method for performing certain routine or repetitive tasks
.