Quality standards

Gekko Quality Solutions perform inspections and audits according to international quality standards, norms and regulations, but also according to our client’s requirements, specifications and code of conduct. Besides our expertise, we use our experience & common sense to secure your business and to protect your interests.

Standards are good tools for us to use in our work, however they need to be combined with extensive knowledge and experience to be able to make a difference.

Quality inspection standards

Gekko Quality Solutions uses the proven method of Acceptable Quality Level (or Acceptable Quality Limit) to conduct product inspection. The standard definition of Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) is “the maximum defective percent (or the maximum number of defects per hundred units) that, for purpose of sampling inspection, can be considered satisfactory as a process average”.

Basically, we will randomly select a sampling size quantity (based on the AQL tables) to be inspected, and immediately after inspection a comprehensive report with summary will give an advice to our client whether to accept or reject the shipment.

In case of quality problems we will of course help you to find a solution  and to discuss preventative actions to avoid the discrepancies in future productions. 

Factory audit standards

GQS will inspect and audit your suppliers according to International Quality Standards, such as ISO 9000 standard.

An audit includes review of factory profile, management and organization, production capacity, equipment, R&D, quality processes as well as working conditions.

The aim of such evaluations / audits is to answer the following question:
Is this supplier or factory really capable of manufacturing my order, in terms of quality and delays?

Social audit standards

Social Audits are especially designed for evaluating the social working conditions of your supplier or manufacturer according to the SA 8000 norm.

The SA8000 standard is based on international workplace norms of International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.The official standard can be found at www.sa-intl.org and here is a summary:

  • Child Labor: No workers under the age of 15; minimum lowered to 14 for countries operating under the ILO Convention 138 developing-country exception; remediation of any child found to be working
  • Forced Labor: No forced labor, including prison or debt bondage labor; no lodging of deposits or identity papers by employers or outside recruiters
  • Health and Safety: Provide a safe and healthy work environment; take steps to prevent injuries; regular health and safety worker training; system to detect threats to health and safety; access to bathrooms and potable water
  • Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining: Respect the right to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; where law prohibits these freedoms, facilitate parallel means of association and bargaining
  • Discrimination: No discrimination based on race, caste, origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union or political affiliation, or age; no sexual harassment
  • Discipline: No corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse
  • Working Hours: Comply with the applicable law but, in any event, no more than 48 hours per week with at least one day off for every seven day period; voluntary overtime paid at a premium rate and not to exceed 12 hours per week on a regular basis; overtime may be mandatory if part of a collective bargaining agreement
  • Compensation: Wages paid for a standard work week must meet the legal and industry standards and be sufficient to meet the basic need of workers and their families; no disciplinary deductions
  • Management Systems: Facilities seeking to gain and maintain certification must go beyond simple compliance to integrate the standard into their management systems and practices.