No one likes surprises – particularly when it comes to product quality. From start to finish, Benchmark International offers reliable third-party inspection services and unparalleled industry expertise on which you can rely. Our accredited inspection processes ensure your projects are staffed and managed with trained and experienced personnel, and that projects are completed as specified, on time, and within budget. Not only do we provide you with a full, unbiased report, we’re committed to helping you identify and resolve manufacturing and quality-control problems before they impact you – or your customers.
Recognizing the need to consider a wide array of product types, regulations, and product standards, we understand that providing meaningful inspection services is not a one-size-fits all scenario. Instead, we work hard to define your specific needs and requirements, then tailor an inspection program to achieve them in an impartial, objective, and cost-effective manner. In fact, our experience and reputation is recognized and accepted within the industry by discerning accreditors and evaluation report organizations including ICC-Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials – Uniform Evaluation Service (IAPMO-UES), International Accreditation Service (IAS), and others. In addition, Benchmark has achieved recognition by the Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) to provide third-party inspection services to manufacturers and fabricators serving the Canadian construction materials market.
Whether you are concerned with product quality, code compliance, or conformance to regulatory requirements, we offer the depth and breadth of inspection services to meet – and exceed – just about any need within the industry sectors we serve. Some of our accredited inspection services include:
- Pre-cast, pre-stressed and/or post-tensioned structural concrete, including manufacturer conformity to IAS AC157 accreditation criteria
- Concrete retaining walls
- Roof underlayment
- Concrete/steel foundation piers
- Wood products including softwood plywood, glued-laminated timber, wood structural-use panels, and exterior wood specialty siding panels
- Metal plate connected wood trusses
- Wood-to-wood and metal-to-metal fasteners and connectors
- Wood hangers, masonry anchors, framing connectors, shear panels, anchor bolts/straps, steel couplers, and splices
- Prefabricated construction and assemblies including steel beams and columns, posts and stanchions, welded stud systems, and open-web steel joists
- Structural steel fabrication including manufacturer conformity to IAS AC172 accreditation criteria
- Metal building systems fabrication including manufacturer conformity to IAS AC472 accreditation criteria
- Factory-constructed modular structures
- Composite wood products including hardwood and decorative plywood, particleboard, medium density fiberboard, and other composite panel materials
- Formaldehyde emissions standards and regulations including EPA TSCA Title VI, CARB ATCM 93120, CANFER and CAN/CSA 0160-16
It’s a lot to consider, so let’s talk. Contact us today to learn more.
In-Plant Quality Control
Buyers, importers, distributors and retailers alike understand the critical nature of sourcing quality products in a timely and cost-effective manner. If your product fails to meet your requirements and customer expectations, the result can have a devastating effect to gaining and maintaining marketplace acceptance, not to mention the issues associated with increased time-to-market, reduced customer satisfaction, lost revenue, delayed shipments, wasted materials, and the potential risk of product recall.
While the impact of these issues can be significant, most of these problems are detectable and preventable. With Benchmark by your side, you have a competent and agile business partner that is qualified and capable of supporting your product sourcing, manufacturing, and quality control needs. Our in-plant quality control services are not only designed to assist you with detecting problems at their source, but also to assist you and your suppliers with identifying logical and practical solutions to assure product quality and reduce the chance that defective materials reach you or your customers.
Benchmark offers a variety of in-plant quality control services that can be tailored to meet your specific needs and objectives. Depending on factors such as the type of product, your experience with the supplier, and other risk factors, these services can be selected either individually or in combination as needed.
Raw Material and Pre-Production Inspection: Before production begins, our inspection teams will evaluate the raw materials and components to verify whether or not these materials conform to applicable specifications and regulatory requirements and are available in sufficient quantities to support your production and delivery schedules. This service adds value in situations where you or your supplier has experienced issues with raw material quality or availability, or when you are working with a new supplier for which you have not yet had the opportunity to develop a reliable working relationship.
Work-In-Process or “Du-Pro” Inspections: At the time of production, Benchmark assists to help monitor the production schedule and process, and to inspect work-in-process components to verify that quality requirements are being met. Where schedule delays, ineffective process controls, or component defects are identified, we can provide objective input to help identify solutions and minimize the potential impact to production and delivery schedules.
Finished Product Quality Inspection (FPQI): Once production is completed, pre-shipment inspections provide an objective evaluation to verify the goods being shipped have been manufactured to meet your requirements. Combined with statistical sampling techniques, Benchmark inspectors can evaluate product features such as appearance, physical properties, workmanship, function, safety, packaging, labeling, and a host of other acceptance criteria.
Container Loading Inspections: In conducting container loading inspections, you have the confidence in knowing the container loading process was monitored rom start to finish. We verify your order is complete and securely loaded into the container before shipment. This is the final opportunity to confirm compliance to quantity, assortment, packaging, and related criteria.
Whether you need just one component, or if you would like us to review the entire production process, we can help. Contact us – we’re here to help you formulate a quality control plan that’s right for you.
