Quality System

QC & QA procedures and documentation at United Valve follow the guidelines of ISO 9001. The most visible aspect of our quality system are the computer terminals located throughout the shop. Traceability of all materials and job performance activities are among the key activities monitored by our shop floor management system.

Per United Valve procedures, all incoming pipe and bar stock is PMI verified before issuance of a material ID number and release for production. Random PMI verification is even performed on weld filler materials and spiral-wound gaskets.

Because we realize how severe valve service conditions can be, all valves disassembled for any reason are given a full test, including closure, following reassembly. Even valves only having gaskets changed are completely tested following reassembly.

Numerous in-house NDT inspections are standard procedure following many welding and/or machining operations. For example, all overlays are dye penetrant checked following welding, to insure that no cracks are present in the finished surface. When radiographing flange attachment welds, our Level II NDE personnel are required to use the “severe cyclic service” criteria of ANSI B31.3 rather than the “normal fluid service” criteria for weld quality acceptance. This ensures that our weld quality meets or exceeds customer requirements for weldment integrity.

United Valve maintains an extensive OEM non-conformance database, which chronicles every recordable defect encountered as valves pass through our shop. This data yields detailed reports, complete with sketches and digital images, which are then passed on to the manufacturer for corrective action. On many occasions this data has been invaluable to an OEM by catching manufacturing anomalies or trends before they get to the field. Since we test over 20,000 valves a year, our inspectors serve as additional “eyes” for our customers.

Having a library of current valve industry and fabrication standards is imperative in the valve service business. Every ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (B&PVC) document is on our computer network and available to managers throughout the shop. This ASME B&PVC data, along with all ASME & ANSI reference documents, is updated automatically each year. A subscription to eight yearly updated ASTM compilations keeps our materials library current. Additionally, United Valve personnel are active members of API, MSS and NACE committees and workgroups, and as such are helping write many of the standards in use in the valve industry today. Being on these committees also guarantees us access to the latest API, MSS & NACE documents. 

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