The Federal Grain Inspection Service's (FGIS) quality control program involves correlating front-line inspectors to our standard references located at the FGIS Technical Services Division's Board Of Appeals and Review (BAR) in Kansas City, Missouri.
A network of field offices perform training and supervision of front line inspectors in their area to ensure all types of inspection results correlate with the BAR's standard reference. For example, interpretative line slides approved by the BAR are used by all inspectors to ensure that they are interpreting visual characteristics found in a sample in the same way.
FGIS is upgrading its ability to analyze quality control data to ensure consistent results nationwide by providing each field office state-of-the-art computers and a specially designed software program. Field offices will be able to modify the program to meet the needs of the local marketplace, and analyze data in various ways to ensure accurate inspections are being performed.
FGIS is also pilot testing an intermarket tracking systems for barges along the Mississippi River to ensure consistent results between origin and destination. This program will be expanded to include other types of carriers nationwide.
Details about our quality program can be found in the
FGIS Quality Handbook.
For more information on FGIS inspection quality program you may contact Field Management Division's
Quality Coordinator via e-mail or telephone (202) 720-0228.
