Cole-Parmer is committed to providing high-quality products and solutions that consistently meet or exceed customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and applicable industry standards. We achieve this commitment by:
- Focusing on the customer — understanding customer needs and delivering reliable, accurate, and dependable products and services.
- Complying with requirements — adhering to all applicable regulatory, statutory, and quality management system requirements.
- Driving continuous improvement — regularly evaluating our processes, performance, and risks to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
- Empowering our people — ensuring employees are trained, engaged, and accountable for quality in everything they do.
- Partnering with suppliers — working collaboratively with suppliers to maintain high standards of quality and reliability across the supply chain.
Top management is committed to establishing, maintaining, and continually improving the effectiveness of the organization and ensuring this Quality Policy is communicated, understood, implemented, and reviewed at all levels of the business.
Ashish Nanda
President, Cole-Parmer
Quality System Overview - Vernon Hills Operations
1. Management Responsibility
- The Director of Compliance and Health & Safety oversees site level Quality programs at the Vernon Hills location.
- The Vice President of Quality provides corporate Quality oversight and reports to the CEO.
- The Director of Compliance and Safety reports to the CEO, with quality related activities functionally aligned to the Vice President of Quality.
2. Contract Review
- All orders are reviewed to confirm Vernon Hills can meet customer requirements.
- Standard terms and conditions are available at www.coleparmer.com/terms-and-conditions upon request.
- Customers are notified if any requirements cannot be met.
- Orders that cannot ship immediately are assigned a promise date.
- If a promise date cannot be met, customers who have opted in and provided an email address are notified of the revised date.
- Order changes are made only upon direct requests from the customer and are dependent on order status.
3. Purchasing
- New suppliers are reviewed to confirm their ability to supply required products.
- Key suppliers are evaluated using receipt nonconformance data and supplier performance metrics.
- Purchase orders include product descriptions, unique product identifiers, and specifications where applicable.
4. Product Identification, Traceability, and Inspection
- Vernon Hills distributes commercial off the shelf products (COTS).
- Products are identified using discrete internal identification numbers.
- Traceability requirements are determined by product and are maintained to the manufacturer when required.
- Incoming products are checked for identification, quantity, and visible damage.
- Additional inspection is performed based on risk or observed trends.
- Products under inspection are identified and segregated to prevent unintended shipment.
5. Handling, Storage, Packaging, and Delivery
- Products are handled, stored, and packaged using methods intended to prevent damage or deterioration.
- Perishable items are controlled to maintain product integrity.
- First in, first out inventory practices are applied where required.
6. Control of Nonconforming Product and Corrective Action
- Incoming nonconforming products are segregated in the Problem Receipts Area.
- Disposition is determined by Quality and Inventory Control.
- Product corrective actions may be initiated by any associate.
- Quality and Purchasing review corrective actions and determine supplier involvement when appropriate.
- Significant nonconformances are escalated by the Director of Compliance and Safety.
- Incoming inspection may be applied to verify corrective action effectiveness.
7. Quality Records, Training, and Continuous Improvement
- Records are retained in accordance with company procedures.
- A standardized hiring and onboarding process is used.
- Training requirements are role-based and maintained at the department level.
8. Design Control, Process Control, and Statistical Techniques
- Design control activities are not applicable to Vernon Hills distribution operations.
- Departments determine appropriate performance monitoring methods.
- Key business metrics are used to monitor operational performance and improvement.
Appendix A InnoCal Operations Only
- InnoCal receives customer supplied products for calibration or repair.
- Procedures are in place to protect and service customer supplied products.
- InnoCal calibration services conform to ISO IEC 17025 requirements.
- InnoCal is accredited by A2LA.
- ISO accreditation applies only to InnoCal operations and not to Vernon Hills distribution activities.
If you have additional questions that are not addressed in this profile, you may send them to me directly.
Michael Whitaker
Director, Regulatory Compliance, Health, and Safety
847-327-5501
[email protected]
