4 Definitions and Acronyms
Quality System: Organizational structure, procedures and processes are
resources needed to implement quality management.
Mandatory Hold Point: An inspection point, defined in an appropriate
1 Scope document, beyond which an activity must not proceed without the approval of
This document, together with the purchase order and appropriate a designated organization or authority.
project specifications define the minimum mandatory inspection Witness Point: An inspection point, defined in an appropriate document,
requirements for project Contractor materials and equipment. beyond which an activity can proceed after notifying the designated
organization or authority.
2 Conflicts and Deviations Review Point: A review point, defined in an appropriate document, is the point
2.1 Any conflicts between this standard and other applicable at which a work activity cannot proceed without first ensuring the review and
Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement (MSAER) approval of applicable documents or personnel qualifications by a designated
shall be resolved in writing by the Company through the Manager, organization or authority.
Inspection Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran. Quality Assurance (QA): All the planned and systematic activities
2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this standard in writing to the implemented within the quality system, and demonstrated as needed, to provide
Company Representative, who shall forward such requests to Manager, adequate confidence that an entity will fulfill requirements for quality.
Inspection Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran according to the Quality Control (QC): The operational techniques and activities that are used
internal company procedure SAEP-302, “Instructions for Obtaining a to fulfill requirements for quality.
Waiver of a Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement.” Quality Control Procedure (QCP): A QCP is a documented procedure
detailing the processes necessary to complete a specific work activity.
3 Applicable Documents PIM: Pre-Inspection Meeting
All references mentioned below shall be considered part of this Inspection & Test Plan (ITP): An ITP is a document based on the detailed
document to the extent specified herein and shall be of the latest issue manufacturing, fabrication and, construction program and identifies each
(including all revisions, addenda, and supplements) unless stated process description. The ITP will set out related sequence of activities to be
otherwise. inspected, examined and tested, and includes the following:
3.1 Saudi Aramco References 1) Lists the relevant approved procedures for a particular material, component,
Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures assembly, and/or, type of work.
SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory Saudi 2) Identification of requirements for documents and acceptance criteria as
Aramco Engineering Requirements applicable.
SAEP-1150 Inspection Coverage on Projects 3) Roles and responsibilities of all involved parties.
Other Document RIO: Responsible Inspection Office
Schedule Q Quality Requirements Project Quality Manager (PQM): The senior Inspection Representative
3.2 Industry Codes and Standards responsible for coordinating all inspection requirements on behalf of the
International Organization for Standardization Inspection Department with PM throughout all project phases.
ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems - Requirements QM: Project Quality Manager
ISO 10005 Quality Management Systems - Guidelines for Quality SAIR: Saudi Aramco Inspection Representative
Plans VID: Saudi Aramco Vendor Inspection Division
ISO 19001 Guidelines for Quality Management Systems Auditing NDT: Non-Destructive Testing
5 Instructions welding, NDT, heat treatment and the required related procedures for that
5.1 Contractor Purchase Requisition specific purchase order.
5.1.1 Purchase requisition originators shall identify the applicable 5.3 Special SA-175 Forms
fabrication & inspection requirements. The minimum inspection 5.3.1 Some inspectable materials do not have coded SA-175 forms linked to
requirements stated in approved requisition shall be reflected in them. When these materials are procured, the purchase requisition originators
purchase orders. shall specify source inspection requirements for materials, by filling in the
5.1.2 Purchase requisition originators may also modify the content of a blank special SA-175 form.
coded SA-175 form for certain purchase orders provided the following 5.3.2 The Contractor is responsible to develop and maintain full document
procedure is followed: control of issued Special SA-175 Forms during a project in term of numbering
[Link] If the modification is to delete or modify an inspection activity and identification, approval, revisions and records preservation.
specified in Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirements, a 5.3.3 The PQM and/or SAIR is responsible to review and approve Contractor
waiver shall be duly obtained as per SAEP-302 against applicable generated Special SA-175 Forms.
standards before altering the coded SA-175 form. 5.3.4 SA-175 form provides sufficient space and flexibility to accommodate all
[Link] If the modification is to delete or add an inspection activity not types of equipment. However, it is not normally designed to cover more than
explicitly stated in Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering one kind of equipment.
Requirements such as witnessed tests, certification requirements etc., 5.3.5 For packaged and skid mounted equipment, separate SA-175 forms are
which are indicated in the coded SA-175 form, concurrence shall be required for each type of inspectable equipment in addition to the Special SA-
obtained from the Saudi Aramco inspection representative (SAIR) 175 form to cover the inspection and testing of the assembled packaged and
before altering the SA-175 form. skid mounted equipment.
5.2 Inspection and Test Plan
5.2.1 The vendor and/or sub-vendors shall prepare detailed ITP’s for all 5.4 Minimum Inspection Levels
assigned equipment and materials in accordance with all relevant Saudi 5.4.1 Inspection levels shall be assigned on project Contractor’s materials and
Aramco inspection forms (SA 175 Forms), Schedule Q and purchase equipment to specify the minimum amount of inspection coverage deemed
orders. necessary by Saudi Aramco to ensure that a product or service conforms to
5.2.2 ITP shall provide:- specifications at a specific supplier's and/or sub-supplier's factory or fabrication
[Link] Detailed inspection activities and the required tests which site.
include, as minimum, inspection hold, witness, review points and 5.4.2 The following system of coding the level of planned inspections shall be
inspection frequency. used to define the inspection requirements:
[Link] Sampling plan criteria for inspectable bulk material which shall Level 0: Documentation requirements only; no vendor inspection required.
be determined based on Company Standards and international code. Level 1: Only final inspection is required prior to shipping.
[Link] Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each inspection Level 2: Includes pre-inspection meetings, one or more unspecified “in
activity. progress” surveillance visit/s, all witness and hold points, final inspection, and
5.2.3 Sampling plan availability does not relieve the Vendor of the release for shipment.
responsibility to ensure compliance with Company requirements. Level 3: Includes pre-inspection meetings, one or more unspecified “in
5.2.4 SAIR reserves the right to increase inspection activities and progress” surveillance visits, all witness and hold points, final inspection, and
sampling plan criteria in coordination with SME based on the criticality release for shipment. Inspections shall be on a regular basis (daily, weekly or
of the purchase orders and past performance of selected manufacturers. bi-weekly).
5.2.5 When required by Company standard and/or project Level 4: Resident inspector continually monitoring the work.
specifications, Vendor and/or sub-vendor shall submit for Company
review and approval all necessary quality control procedures such as
5.4.3 Minimum inspection levels for project Contractor’s materials and
equipment are indicated in Appendices A and B of this procedure.
5.4.4 VID provides quality monitoring and inspection support for
projects in accordance with approved ITP. SAIR will determine which
purchase orders and vendor activities to be monitored on the basis of
the criticality of the materials/ equipment and past performance of
selected manufacturers.
5.4.5 Inspection levels might be elevated or lowered by SAIR on case
by case basis, based on criticality of procured materials,
performance of selected manufacture, qualification of Contractor’s
inspector,.. etc.
5.4.6 In case of materials/ equipment not listed in below table, the
SAIR will determine the appropriate inspection level.
6 Responsibilities
6.1 SAIR and/or PQM is responsible to verify the assignment of
appropriate level of inspection. He is also responsible to determine the
level of inspection for none listed materials/ equipment.
6.2 Contractor is responsible to propose the proper level of inspection
in accordance with this procedure and/or other contractual documents.
6.3 RIOs are responsible to provide monitoring inspection services
when requested by the SAIR.
6.4 VID Management will insure the timely review and issuance of the
revised version of this procedure.
6.5 SAIR is responsible to escalating to SAIR’s management any
repetitive major observations from the same vendor for any further
actions.
7 Technical Support
For technical support or enquiry regarding this procedure, contact
current VID/QMU supervisor or VID Superintendent.