1. Quality Assurance for Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations

2. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Branch Primary Functions:  Monitor Cotton Program Quality Assurance Activities  Management of Quality Assurance Checklot Program

3. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program  Approximately 1% of all samples classed each day at each classing office are randomly selected as a checklot for retest by the Quality Assurance Branch  Checklot samples are selected at the classer station by the Non-stop computer after the classification process is complete  The classification data assigned by the HVI or classer can not be changed after the sample is selected as a checklot

4. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program  Checklot samples are shipped to the Quality Assurance Branch via overnight delivery for next day classification  All checklot samples submitted to the Quality Assurance Branch are tested on two separate HVI systems  The test results of the two Quality Assurance HVI systems are compared to ensure the results are within established tolerances

5. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program  Checklot samples with results for any quality measurement that are outside the established tolerances based on the comparison of the two Quality Assurance HVI systems are deleted and not included in the data provided to the classing offices  The results from the two Quality Assurance HVI systems that are within the established tolerances are averaged and used for comparisons to the classing office results

6. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program  Repeatability (reproducibility) and bias are calculated for all HVI factors, classer leaf grade and extraneous matter by comparing the classing office results to the Quality Assurance Branch results  Test results are telecommunicated to each respective office immediately after classification is complete at Quality Assurance  Checklot data is utilized by USDA to ensure all offices provide accurate data to customers

7. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program  Quality Assurance follows the same type calibration and In-house procedures as the Classing Offices to ensure consistency  Quality Assurance also maintains an internal checklot program to ensure that all QA HVI’s and classers are on the same and correct level

8. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program CropUpland ChecklotsPima checklots 2009104,2515,963 2010*99,914*1,988* Checklot Samples Classed 2010 Through 11/18/10 Classification of Upland crop 59% complete Classification of Pima crop 26% complete

9. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program  The goal of Quality Assurance is to provide classification results back to the offices the same day the checklot samples are received  During the “peak” of the season, Quality Assurance will operate multiple shifts and work weekends to provide timely data to the offices

10. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program  Quality Assurance classification results are returned to the respective offices immediately after the QA classification is completed  All checklot results from the Quality Assurance Branch are tracked back to the Classing Office, shift of operation, classification date, classification time, classing supervisor, classer, HVI, HVI supervisor, and HVI operator

11. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program  Reports are generated and data are analyzed throughout the day to detect any potential problems or level shifts  If the Quality Assurance staff detects any actual or potential problem, immediate interaction occurs with the office to ensure correction

12. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program Leaf Grade Extraneous Matter Micronaire: Strength: Length: Length Uniformity: Trash % Area Color Rd Color +b Particle Count No Tolerance ± 0.13 unit ± 1.6 grams/tex ± 0.024 inches ± 1.2 unit ± Equation Based ± 0.8 unit ± 0.3 unit ± Equation Based Reproducibility tolerances

13. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Results Through 11/18/10

14. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Results Through 11/18/10

15. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Data Analysis

16. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Data Analysis

17. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Data Analysis

18. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Data Analysis

19. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations

23. Quality Assurance Checklot Program  Quality Meetings are conducted each week to evaluate office performance and identify quality problems or potential problems  The quality meetings include the Deputy Administrator, if available, the Associate Deputy Administrator, and representatives from the Grading Branch, S&E Branch and the Quality Assurance Branch

24. Quality Assurance For Multiple Lab/Instrument Operations Quality Assurance Checklot Program  During the active classing season, the Associate Deputy Administrator, Grading Branch Chief, Quality Assurance Branch Chief and/or other supervisory personnel visit classing offices to ensure proper operational procedures