Industrial Alloy Quality Assurance & Compliance Protocol
Effective 1 June 2025
This document outlines the mandatory quality assurance procedures and regulatory compliance measures applied to all wholesale precious metal alloys supplied by RedkiJewellery. Every batch is tested, documented, and certified in accordance with the Precious Metals Marking Act of Canada (R.S.C., 1985, c. P-19) and associated regulations. The following sections detail the specific controls, test methods, and documentation that guarantee traceability and legal conformity for industrial buyers.
1. Incoming Material Verification & Chain of Custody
Every raw material lot received from LBMA‑accredited refineries or certified Canadian smelters is logged with a unique batch identifier. The chain‑of‑custody record includes the source refinery, lot weight, date of receipt, and the responsible receiving officer. No material enters production without a valid assay certificate from the supplier.
- Batch identifier format: RKI‑YYYY‑XXXXX (year + sequential number)
- Supplier assay certificate must include fineness, trace element limits, and density
- Physical segregation of uncertified material in a locked quarantine area
- Digital chain‑of‑custody log updated within 2 hours of receipt
2. Compositional Analysis & Fire Assay Protocol
Each production batch undergoes a two‑stage analytical process: X‑ray fluorescence (XRF) screening followed by fire assay for precious metal content. The fire assay is performed by an accredited third‑party laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025). Results are compared against the declared fineness and the tolerances defined under the Precious Metals Marking Act.
- XRF screening: 5 random samples per 100 kg lot
- Fire assay: 2 samples per lot, with a third if deviation exceeds ±0.5‰
- Acceptance criteria: gold ≥ 99.99%, silver ≥ 92.5%, platinum ≥ 99.95%
- Trace element limits: lead ≤ 20 ppm, cadmium ≤ 10 ppm, mercury ≤ 5 ppm
3. Mechanical & Dimensional Testing
All wrought products (wire, sheet, grain) are tested for tensile strength, hardness (Vickers), and dimensional uniformity. Tests follow ASTM B413‑17 for silver alloys and ASTM B616‑17 for platinum‑group metals. Results are recorded on the batch certificate and retained for a minimum of 10 years.
- Tensile test: 3 specimens per 50 kg spool or 200 kg sheet lot
- Hardness: Vickers HV5, 5 indentations per sample
- Dimensional tolerance: wire diameter ±0.02 mm, sheet thickness ±0.05 mm
- Surface defect inspection: visual + 10× magnification for cracks or inclusions
4. Hallmarking & Marking Compliance
Every finished product intended for sale in Canada is marked with the registered trademark of RedkiJewellery, the fineness designation (e.g., 925, 999.9), and the assay office mark. Marking is applied by laser engraving or mechanical stamping. The marking depth and legibility are verified against the requirements of the Precious Metals Marking Act.
- Registered trademark: “RKI” in a shield outline
- Fineness mark: minimum 1.5 mm height, legible under 2× magnification
- Assay office mark: Canadian Mint or accredited lab identifier
- Verification: 100% visual inspection + 2% random depth check
5. Documentation & Certificate of Conformity
Each shipment is accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) that references the batch number, the applicable standards, and the test results. The CoC is signed by the quality manager and countersigned by the third‑party laboratory. Digital copies are available via the RedkiJewellery supplier portal for 10 years after shipment.
- CoC includes: batch ID, product description, weight, fineness, test methods, results
- Signed by: Quality Manager (Willy Klocko) and lab representative
- Digital archive: PDF/A‑3 format, accessible via batch number lookup
- Retention period: 10 years from date of shipment
6. Non‑Conformance & Corrective Action
Any batch that fails to meet the specified criteria is immediately placed on hold and flagged in the inventory system. A non‑conformance report (NCR) is generated, and the material is either re‑tested, returned to the supplier, or re‑processed. The customer is notified within 48 hours if the non‑conformance affects an active order.
- Hold status: physical segregation + digital lock in ERP
- NCR includes: description of deviation, root cause, corrective action, preventive measure
- Customer notification: email to primary contact within 48 hours
- Re‑testing: full fire assay + mechanical retest at supplier’s cost
