Section IV: JOAP PROGRAMS AND REPORTS

NAVAIR 17-15-50.1

TM 38-301-1

T.O. 33-1-37-1

CGTO 33-1-37-1

SECTION IV

JOAP PROGRAMS AND REPORTS

4-1. General. This section provides general information concerning JOAP programs and reports.

4-2. Background. The JOAP certification and correlation programs are primary elements of the JOAP quality

assurance effort to ensure standardization of operations and quality of oil analysis by the laboratories enrolled in

these programs. Participation in these programs by both organic and contracted laboratories is mandatory for all

laboratories equipped with atomic emission rotrode spectrometers.

4-3. JOAP Certification Program,

a. Purpose. To ensure that all participating laboratories meet specified criteria in order to maintain quality

and uniformity of spectrometric oil analysis between laboratories.

b. Policy.

(1) All DOD oil analysis laboratories, (organic or under contract to a DOD agency or US military

service for the purpose of analyzing samples from US government equipment or supplies) will participate in the

JOAP Correlation Program. Laboratories with approved types of atomic emission rotrode spectrometers are

certified by the Director, JOAP-TSC. Only certified laboratories may perform interservice oil analysis functions.

Uncertified laboratories may perform intraservice or intraagency analysis functions only with the service Program

Manager's written authorization.

(2) The JOAP Certification Program is currently standardized on the atomic emission rotrode

spectrometer. Atomic absorption (AA) spectrophotometers and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectrometers

do not meet the certification criteria, and therefore will not be certified for interservice oil analysis. AA or ICP

laboratories may be approved for independent operations by Program Managers for individual service oil

analysis.

c. Certification Procedures. The JOAP-TSC certifies laboratories upon their initial establishment and

relocation based on the Service Program Manager's attestation (see figure 4-1) that the laboratory/spectrometer

meets specified criteria and the laboratory/spectrometer's satisfactory participation in the JOAP Correlation

Program. The certification checklist enables the JOAP-TSC to ensure that laboratories meet minimum criteria

required for an operating laboratory.

NOTE

An officer, senior non-commissioned officer*, or senior civilian manager who is

responsible for laboratory operations must sign the certification checklist. For

contractor operated laboratories, an Officer-in-charge is considered to be the lowest

level of government supervision within the laboratory's chain of command authorized

to sign correspondence leaving the installation. *Not applicable to AOAP

laboratories.

d. Categories of Certification. Based upon qualifications and performance, the JOAP-TSC places eligible

laboratories/spectrometers in the following certification categories:

(1) Certified - Correlation average for 3 months is 80 percent or above and all certification checklist

requirements satisfied.

(2) Uncertified - Correlation average for 3 months falls below 80 percent and/or certification checklist

requirement(s) not satisfied.

4-1