CIG Inspection Report

CIG Inspection Report

The CIG Inspection Report is used and completed by the Inspector either during pre-licence inspections or during routine inspections. Completion of this report during the pre-licence inspection will take into account the previous information as given in CIG 422 Section B and compare this with the situation observed at the Factory. The intention of completing this report during the routine inspection is to verify and document that the factory still complies with the requirements of the CIG Inspection Scheme and the requirements of the Certification Bodies Schemes. 

The CIG Inspection Report is applied by all CIG Members in the same way. One report is issued per visit and factory for all products certified by one or multiple Certification Body (s). 

The CIG Inspection Report is also recommended to document the Factory self-assessment of the production and control process of certified products performed by the factory. 

Guidance on how to complete the CIG Inspection Report is provided by OD CIG 424. 

 

The CIG Inspection Report covers the following topics:

  1. General Information
  2. Verification of purchased components and materials which have a safety implication on the certified product (Incoming Inspection)
  3. Production Control, Monitoring and Routine Tests
  4. Functional Check of Test and Measuring Equipment used for Safety Tests
  5. Products seen in Production during visit
  6. Calibration/Verification of Safety Test and Measuring Equipment
  7. Handling and Storage
  8. Product Verification Tests / Periodic Tests (PVT)
  9. Unsatisfactory Findings from Previous Inspection – Follow-Up
  10. Quality Management System
  11. Factory self-assessment of the production and control process of certified products
  12. Complaints
  13. Certified Products and Changes to Certified Products
  14. Selection and Shipping of Sample(s)
  15. Inspector’s Evaluation

One inspection

1.6    Inspection Details:
Certification Body requesting inspection Inspection X of Y Certification Body(ies) Reference No. Product Category Kind of Product
VDE 1 of 1 XX PROT, INST, CONT Circuit Breaker, Control Switch
SEMKO 1 of 1 XX PROT Circuit Breakers
NEMKO 1 of 1 XX POW, PROT Circuit Breakers
IMQ 1 of 1 XX PROT Circuit Breakers
DEKRA 1 of 1 XX PROT Circuit Breakers
OVE 1 of 1 XX PROT Circuit Breakers
CERTIF 1 of 1 XX PROT Circuit Breakers
AENOR 1 of 1 XX PROT Circuit Breakers
CEBEC 1 of 1 XX CONT, PROT Circuit Breakers
FIMKO 1 of 1 XX PROT Circuit Breakers
LCIE 1 of 1 XX CONT, PROT Circuit Breakers
     
     

For products holding certifications from multiple CIG Member Bodies:

One CIG Body carries out the factory inspection, applying the harmonized CIG inspection procedures and issuing a single CIG Inspection Report. This report is accepted and recognized by all CIG Members.

See below some examples of how CIG Inspection Reports are completed:

  • The first column lists all CBs requesting the inspection to be performed by the inspector on-site at the factory.
  • Some CBs perform several inspections per year. The second column indicates whether the inspection is the first (or second, etc.) in the sequence (e.g. 1 of 4).
  • “Reference No. of CBs” helps identify the report at the requesting CB once it is sent after the inspection. Some CBs handle several thousand inspections annually.
  • Technical requirements may differ depending on the product type, such as contactors (CON) or protection devices (PROT). The inspector evaluates the availability and use of the necessary test equipment, as well as the procedures, according to the relevant product category.
  • The “Kind of Product” column refers to the above-mentioned product category, expressed in terminology commonly used by the manufacturer.

Sample selection

Another major goal of the CIG Inspection Scheme is to provide a structured approach for selecting samples for re-testing directly at the factory.

Where sample selection for re-testing is part of a certification procedure, this can be defined and managed within the CIG inspection processes.
The certification body may also specify particular requirements regarding sample selection, labeling of samples, sealing methods, etc., which will be taken into account by the CIG inspectors.

All of this can be carried out during a single inspection, performed by one CIG inspector, thereby covering the sampling needs of multiple certification bodies.

SAMPLE SELECTION SHEET at Factory: XX Date: XX
Selected for Label No. Quantity Product/ Type/Technical data Licence No. Production period Code letters
VDE 218184 25 XX XX This month ☑P   F☐   T☐
☑S   A☐   I☐
IMQ PI.C0004C 7 XX XX This month ☑P   F☐   T☐
☑S   A☐   I☐
LCIE 14825 7 XX XX This month ☑P   F☐   T☐
☑S   A☐   I☐
AENOR 0009570 5 XX XX This month ☑P   F☐   T☐
☑S   A☐   I☐
       
       
It is within the factories responsibility to take the necessary steps to dispatch the units, clear them through customs and pay carriage, in order that the addressee-organisation should not handle any possible custom clearance.
Code letters:

P = Sample from Production

T = Transported to the Certification Body by the Inspector

S = Stock

A = Shipped by the Inspection Agency

F = Forwarded by the Factory

I = Selected and tested by the inspector during inspection

Inspector independence and impartiality

The CIG procedures (OD CIG 421), which define the harmonized requirements for factory inspections, include a dedicated clause on Inspector Responsibilities. This clause emphasizes the importance of impartiality in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065, particularly the requirements relating to personnel (Clause 6.1.3).

It requires inspectors to remain independent and free from any activities or influences that could compromise their objectivity. For each inspection assignment, inspectors must not have been directly or indirectly involved in the design, supply, installation, or maintenance of the product concerned within the previous two years or have any other conflict of interest that could affect their impartiality or the credibility of the inspection results.