AASHTO’s National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP)
Audit Report for Geosynthetic Private Label Distributors
Note to Auditor: Auditor will review information/records regarding source manufacturers used. However, the
specific manufacturer names should not be included in the final audit report that is published. The auditor will
verify which manufacturers were used, and that all private labeled products are traceable by the auditor to the
source manufacturer test data that supports the private labeled product properties, and that the company’s
processes and record keeping is in place and adequate to accomplish the same.
Proprietary Ownership
Company Name:
Physical Address:
Primary Contact
Name:
Title:
Telephone:
Email:
Fax:
Management
QC Manager:
Business Operations
Manager:
Distribution
Center/Warehouse
Name:
Physical Address:
Mailing Address:
(if different from above)
Auditor Contact
Name:
Telephone:
Address:
Auditor Name: _______________
Audit Report Number: ____________
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Audit Report for Geosynthetic Private Label Distributors
Email:
DOT Official Contact
Name:
Title / Organization:
Telephone:
Address:
Email:
DOT Official Contact
Name:
Title / Organization:
Telephone:
Address:
Email:
DOT Official Contact
Name:
Title / Organization:
Telephone:
Address:
Email:
Other Attendee Contact
Name:
Title / Organization:
Telephone:
Address:
Email:
Auditor Name: _______________
Audit Report Number: ____________
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Evaluation Program for Geosynthetic Reinforcement
Summary Report For
_____________________________________________
Introduction
The National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP) is a program under the sponsorship
of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The NTPEP
Evaluation Program for facilities producing geotextiles provides a comprehensive review of the
production and testing of geotextiles and of the quality management system. The evaluation starts with a
desktop review of the facility’s quality manual and concludes with an on-site review of the facility’s
processes and their quality management system documentation.
The desktop review and the on-site review were conducted by lead auditor
___________________. Geosynthetic distributor ________ was represented by ___________
(Business Operations Manager) and ____________ (Quality Assurance Manager), during the onsite audit which was completed on _____________.
The evaluation findings follow. Deviations from program requirements are noted in red.
Summarize audit findings here.
Auditor Name: _______________
Audit Report Number: ____________
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Table of Contents
Section 1: Geosynthetic Product Line Summary ........................................................................ 4
Section 2: Manufacturing Plants Used by Private Label Product Line ..................................... 5
Section 3: Company Organizational Geosynthetic Quality Policies .......................................... 6
Section 4: On-Site Audit ............................................................................................................. 8
Section 5: Geosynthetic Identification Markings ....................................................................... 9
Section 6: Sample Geosynthetic Test Reports and Certifications .............................................. 9
Section 7: Report Signature ...................................................................................................... 10
Appendix A: Sample Private Labeled Source Manufacturer Test Reports and Certifications 11
Section 1: Geosynthetic Product Line Summary
Product Line
Product Description (e.g., needle
punched nonwoven, slit film
woven, etc.)
Auditor Name: _______________________
Audit Report Number: _________________
Product Designation
(style)
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Section 2: Manufacturing Plants Used to Supply Private Label Product Line
Manufacturer Name
Product Style
Manufacturer(s)
(list all manufacturers used to produce
style)
Manufacturer Location/address
Documentation of
Agreement between Source
Manufacturer and Private
label Company Available?
YES
NO
Unique Roll
Marking
registered with
NTPEP?
YES
NO
Describe how the company qualifies suppliers and verifies their current status in the NTPEP program?
Comments:
Auditor Note: Auditor should verify that a current notarized letter describing agreement between the private label
company and the source manufacturer (including equivalence between source manufacturer product designations
and private label product designations) is available from each source manufacturer for each private labeled product
listed.
Auditor Name: _______________________
Audit Report Number: _________________
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Section 3: Company Organizational Geosynthetic Quality Policies
A) QMS Manual or Equivalent Organizational Quality Policies
YES
NO
N/A
YES
NO
1) Quality Document/Manual Identification:
2) Date of Latest Revision of Approved Quality Policies Document:
3) Facility has this quality policies document available?
4) Does the quality policies document cover page contain:
a) The company name and/or logo?
b) The date of latest revision?
5) Does the company quality policy document indicate who in the company’s quality
organization has authority to reject materials for distribution?
Identify Person: _________________________________________
B) Company Quality Policies for geosynthetic products purchased from others
1) Do the quality procedures as described in the company quality policies document:
a) Specify the quality process and procedures for geosynthetics purchased and distributed
under a private label?
b) Specify the company’s source manufacturer qualification and quality review
requirements?
c) Specify the minimum frequency of required manufacturer certifications / manufacturer
QC test results?
d) Require visual inspection of each product, verifying the as-manufactured product
marking/labeling, manufacturer supplied certifications, and lot specific manufacturer
QC/QA data?
e) Specify policies for addressing/documenting customer feedback?
2) Summarize below how the facility verifies incoming shipments of geosynthetic materials are
compliant with the requirements established in the company’s quality policies document.
3) Does the company have property specifications for the geosynthetic products purchased for
distribution under a private label?
4) Identify properties used in the company’s geosynthetic specifications:
a. Mass per Unit Weight (ASTM D 5261)
b. Permittivity (ASTM D 4491)
c. Apparent Opening Size, AOS (ASTM D 4751)
d. Grab Tensile Properties (ASTM D 4632)
e. Trapezoid Tearing Strength (ASTM D 4533)
f. Puncture Resistance (ASTM D 6241)
g. UV Degradation (ASTM D4355)
h. Asphalt Retention of Paving Fabrics (ASTM D6140)
i. Melting Point (ASTM D276)
j. Are lot specific values for all these properties included in the manufacturer data
provided with each shipment of geosynthetic? If not, which ones are not included?
Auditor Name: _______________________
Audit Report Number: _________________
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5) Summarize below how geosynthetic products that are determined to not meet specification requirements are
identified, traced and quarantined.
Comments:
C) Company Quality Policies for Records Retention and Traceability
YES
NO
N/A
1) Do the company quality policies include a process for storing and locating source
manufacturer:
a) Geosynthetic product certifications?
b) Source manufacturer QC test results for any geosynthetic direct shipment
from manufacturer or warehoused product?
c) What is your required minimum retention time for records?
____yrs
Comments:
2) Does the company follow their procedures for the following:
a) Test results and product traceability (storing and locating test reports)?
b) Resolving non-conforming test results?
c) Supplier qualifications / reviews?
d) Customer feedback?
3) Does the company quality policies document establish traceability from the final
private labeled geosynthetic product back to the source manufacturer lot used?
Comments:
4) Does the company quality policies document include procedures for storing,
shipping, and handling of finished geosynthetics?
Comments:
Auditor Name: _______________________
Audit Report Number: _________________
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Section 4: On-Site Audit
Auditor Note –The auditor should conduct an inspection of the geosynthetics in the yard noting any physical
defects. In addition the auditor should select three random samples of geosynthetic to verify proper quality control
records. The “auditor” as defined herein may include the DOT inspector as the auditor’s on-site representative,
especially if product is inspected at a DOT project site instead of a company warehouse. In the case the on-site
audit is conducted at a state DOT project site, the auditor’s representative shall gather the as shipped product
documentation provided to the state DOT (certifications, source manufacturer lot/roll specific QC test data, photos
of the product marking and labeling, and any QA test results the state conducts/obtains.
A)
Visual Inspection of geoynthetic in the warehouse or product as shipped to a
state DOT project site (conducted by auditor)
YES
NO
YES
NO
1) Indicate where visual inspection was conducted (e.g., company warehouse, or state
DOT project site, and where located).
2) The auditor shall inspect geosynthetic product rolls to ensure that they are:
a.
free from rips, tears, or holes?
b.
free from thin spots/areas?
c.
free of foreign inclusion and visible defects?
3) Regarding the source manufacturer certification, and QC/QA data/test results:
a) Are they traceable to the final geosynthetic products sold under the company’s
private label?
b) Was auditor able to verify traceability?
Indicate method used by the company to maintain traceability (e.g., finished product
lot number included in final product identification, computer database maintained by
manufacturer quality staff, etc.):
Indicate how auditor verified traceability:
Auditor Note: If a warehouse inspection is not possible, this inspection should be
conducted using product as shipped to a specific state DOT project (identify products
in the process of being shipped with assistance from the private label company, and
then make arrangements with the local DOT to get the needed paper work, samples,
etc.).
B)
Geosynthetic Markings Verification (Conducted by auditor)
1) Do geosynthetic markings:
a) exist along the geosynthtic roll at intervals not exceeding ___ ft [___ m]?
b) include the manufacturer’s name or code number?
Auditor Name: _______________________
Audit Report Number: _________________
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2) Regarding the labels placed on the geotextile roll:
a) Are they properly located and firmly affixed in accordance with the NTPEP work
plan?
b) Do they include the roll number?
c) Do they include the lot number?
d) Do they include the AASHTO M288 class(es)?
e) Do they include the property MARV’s?
Comments:
Section 5: Geosynthetic Identification Markings
Auditor Note - Insert a picture(s) of the plant’s unique gesynthetic identification markings. Refer to the plant’s preaudit documentation or previous audit report.
Section 6: Sample Geosynthetic Test Reports and Certifications
Auditor Note – Maintain example hard copies of the test records, certifications, and reports gathered during the
audit.
Sample Test Reports: Provide sample reports representing source manufacturer quality control
testing for private labeled products in accordance with the AASHTO M288 Specifications:
Auditor Name: _______________________
Audit Report Number: _________________
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Test reports representing the source manufacturer’s QC/QA testing and source manufacturer certifications are
included in Appendix A of this report.
Section 7: Report Signature
The Preceding Report has been reviewed and assured to be accurate by the Lead Auditor.
Auditor Name:
Signature:
Auditor Name:
Signature:
Auditor Name:
Signature:
Auditor Name: _______________________
Audit Report Number: _________________
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Appendix A: Sample Private Labeled Source Manufacturer Test Reports and
Certifications
Auditor Name: _______________________
Audit Report Number: _________________
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