GP12 exam /
Early Production Containment

The GP 12 exam / early production containment (EPC) is a control which is carried out on the finished product, usually immediately before shipping.

What is the GP12 exam / Early Production Containment?
In the case of the EPC, all known errors which have hitherto occurred during the test of a product are entered in an error collection card. The GP12 test should always be done away from final inspection, etc., so that it does not lead to collusion of the inspectors, e.g. "Xy I do not have to check, since this was already checked in the final inspection" or "Xy I do not have to check because this is controlled in the EPC" comes.

The examiners are thoroughly trained on the fault characteristics, so that all faulty products are sorted out. If new errors occur during the check, they are added to the error list and the quality managers are informed.
If an error no longer occurs, it will continue to be checked up to an agreed time to make sure that this error has really been eliminated. If the error no longer occurs after the expiration of this period, this error is removed from the error collection card.

EPC serves the customer to protect himself from his own mistakes. However, it is not a problem-solving method, this must be carried out intensively in parallel by the customer.

If there are no more errors and the error collection card is empty, then the GP12 exam is also considered as finished.