Reliance Precision Limited (‘Reliance’) has recently received Nadcap® accreditation for Chemical Processing in relation to its Passivation Process. Nadcap® accreditation demonstrates Reliance’s ongoing commitment to quality to its customers, especially those in the aerospace and defence industries.

The National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (Nadcap®) is administered by the not-for-profit Performance Review Institute® (PRI) and provides a standardised approach to quality assurance that brings together technical experts from industry and government to establish requirements for accreditation. Processes are audited against these requirements.

Reliance’s Chemical Processing accreditation specifically relates to the company’s Passivation Process, which is resourced at its Huddersfield site. Passivation uses nitric acid to remove free iron from the surface of components. The chemical treatment leads to a protective oxide layer, or passivation film, that is less likely to chemically react with air and cause corrosion. Reliance’s Passivation Process is classed as a ‘special process’, which is defined as a process where the output cannot be verified without destruction of the product. It is therefore imperative that the process is tightly controlled, to ensure that it results in conforming products or components.

Jonathan Holmes, Quality Engineer (Process Chemistry), led a task group comprised of engineers from Reliance’s Quality, Engineering and Cleaning departments to ensure that the process met audit criteria. Accreditation ensures that the company appears on the Qualified Manufacturers List (QML). Jonathan comments:

“We are incredibly pleased to have secured accreditation for our Passivation Process. The audit process was straightforward, and our Nadcap® approved auditor was able to guide us through the necessary steps. We recognise that our customers want quality assurance from their suppliers, and Nadcap® accreditation helps us to demonstrate this.”

Jay Solomond, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Performance Review Institute, said: “Nadcap® accreditation is globally recognised as a hallmark of quality, and is a major accomplishment. For many years, the aerospace industry has incorporated Nadcap® into its approach for handling risk, as it demonstrates compliance to industry standards and customer requirements. I am delighted, therefore, that Reliance Precision Limited has achieved Nadcap® accreditation for chemical processing and that all their hard work has paid off.”