ISO 9000 Quality Management Systems: IS 15400: CC

Friday, September 18, 2009

IS 15400: CC

Chapter - VIII

CHAPTER - VIII

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

Vision of Bureau of Indian Standards

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India, in its corporate quality policy, resolves to be the leader in all matters concerning Standardization, Certification and Quality. In order to attain this, the Bureau would strive:

– to provide efficient and timely service.

– to satisfy the customer’s need for quality and safety of goods and services, and

– to work and act in such a way that each task performed as individuals or as corporate entity, leads to excellence and enhances the credibility and image of the organization.

BIS would achieve these objectives by working in close cooperation with all concerned BIS users and by adopting appropriate management systems, motivating and ensuring active participation of all its employees.

GENERAL

8.1 The Bureau of Indian Standards, the National Standards Body of India became functional as a statutory body under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 with effect from 1 April 1987 taking over staff, assets and liabilities of Indian Standards Institution established in 1947. The Bureau is successfully promoting and nurturing the standardization movement in the country. During 2005-06, BIS has made all-round progress in its key activities relating to standardization and certification (Product and Management Systems Certification).

STANDARDS FORMULATION

8.2 BIS is formulating need-based Indian Standards in line with the national priorities as a time bound programme. The Bureau has taken a decision to harmonize national standards with regional and international standards in order to facilitate adoption of international standards by all segments of business and industry. The progress on activities relating to formulation of Indian Standards is given in Table – 1.

Table - 1
Progress of Standards Formulation

Progress during

Sl.No. Activities -----------------------------------------
2004- 05* Apr-Dec 2005**

1. New and revised standards formulated 385 209

2. Sectional Committee meetings held 162 109

3. Standards in force 18114 18218

4. Standards Reviewed 3518 2114

_{* As on 31 March 2005
** As on 31 December 2005

Indian Standards in Force

CERTIFICATIONProduct Certification8.3 BIS has been operating product certification scheme for more than four decades. The Certification Scheme is basically voluntary in nature but for a number of items affecting health and safety of the consumer and those of mass consumption, it has been made mandatory by the Government through various statutory measures such as Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, Mines Act, Indian Gas Cylinders Rules besides BIS Act. Some of the items brought under mandatory certification on consideration of health and safety are LPG cylinders, food colours, food additives, pressure stoves, safety items used in mines, clinical thermometers, packaged drinking water, etc.
8.4 The progress of certification marks activity is summarized in Table - 2.
Table - 2
Progress of Certification Marks Activities
Sl. No. Activities Progress during
-----------------------------------
2004-05* Apr-Dec 2005**
1. Licences granted 2271 1591
2. Total Licences in operation 18466 18913
3. Samples tested in BIS labs 27615 18928
* As on 31 March 2005
** As on 31 December 2005
PRODUCT CERTIFICATION LICENCES IN OPERATION

Hallmarking Of Gold Jewellery8.5 BIS has been nominated as the sole agency in India for Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery. The Hallmarking Scheme was formally launched by BIS in April 2000 on voluntary basis. Jewellers desirous of operating the BIS Hallmarking Scheme for gold jewellery have to apply BIS and get BIS Certification. A BIS certified jeweller gets his jewellery assayed and hallmarked by any BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. The recognition of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres is done by BIS after ensuring that the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre are following BIS Criteria for Hallmarking based on laid down norms for sampling, assaying and hallmarking and also have adequate testing facilities, trained and competent manpower. The norms for recognition of these centres have been aligned with those in other parts of the world, in order to ensure the acceptability of the jewellery with 'Indian Hallmark' world over. During the period, licences were granted to 154 jewellers and 10 Assaying and Hallmarking centres were recognized.
Certification of Foreign Manufacturers & Imported products8.6 BIS launched its Product Certification Scheme to overseas manufacturers and Indian importers in the year 1999. Under the provisions of this scheme, foreign manufacturers can seek certification from BIS for marking their product with BIS Standard Mark and Indian importers can also seek BIS certification for applying BIS Standard Mark on the product being imported into the country. During the period 12 licences were granted under the Foreign Manufacturers Scheme.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce have issued a notification dated 24 November 2000 according to which products which are under mandatory BIS Certification through various Notifications issued by Govt. of India, cannot be imported into India without BIS Certification. For compliance to this requirement, all foreign manufacturers of these products who intend to export to India are required to obtain a BIS product certification license.
Management System Certification
Quality Management System Certification8.7 In addition to Product Certification Scheme, BIS operates Quality Management System Certification Scheme (QMS), which was launched in 1991 according to IS/ISO 9000 series of standards. The scheme is accredited by Raad voor Accreditatie (RvA) of Netherlands in 23 technology areas. During the period 34 licences were granted under BIS Quality Management System Certification Scheme.
Environmental Management System Certification8.8 Environmental Management Systems Certification Scheme was launched by BIS in 1997 as per IS/ISO 14001-1996, one of the standards out of ISO 14000 series of standards. This scheme helps the industrial units to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection, prevention of pollution and compliance with environmental legislation. During the period 5 licences have been granted under the Environmental Management System Certification Scheme.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)8.9 Keeping in view the International requirement for Safety of Food products to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), BIS has formulated IS: 15000 standard based on Codex Alimentarius Commission document ALINORM 97/13A. HACCP is a process control system designed to identify and prevent microbial and other hazards in food production. BIS has started HACCP integrated Quality System Certification, which provides a dual benefit of award of certificate for HACCP and IS/ISO 9000 in a single audit. This scheme helps the exporters in exporting of food and food products especially to the countries like USA and Europe. During the period 3 licences have been granted under the HACCP integrated Quality Management System Certification Scheme.
Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification (OHSMS)
8.10 BIS launched OH&SM Systems certification as per IS 18001:2000 in January 2003, which essentially enables an organization to define, plan and manage a policy and objectives, taking into account legislative requirements and information about significant hazards and risks, which the organization can control and over which it can be expected to have an influence, to protect its employees and others, whose health and safety may be affected by the activities of the organization. During the period 5 licences have been granted under OHSMS certification.
LABORATORIES8.11 To support the activities of BIS product certification, a chain of 8 laboratories have been established consisting of a Central Laboratory at Sahibabad, 4 regional laboratories at Mohali, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai and 3 branch office laboratories at Patna, Bangalore and Guwahati. The Central Laboratory and regional laboratories have established testing facilities for products of chemical, food, electrical and mechanical disciplines. Laboratories at Mumbai and Chennai have also established in-house calibration facilities in the field of electrical and mechanical disciplines. Approximately 30000 samples are being tested in the BIS laboratories every year. In certain cases where it is economically not feasible to develop test facilities in BIS laboratories and also for other reasons like overloading of samples, equipment being out of order, the services of 104 outside approved laboratories are also being availed.
8.12 To ensure that BIS laboratories services are keeping pace with the development at the international level, the laboratories at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Mohali, Bangalore and Sahibabad have been accredited by National Accreditation Board for Calibration and Testing laboratories (NABL) as per international norms (ISO/IEC 17025).
8.13 BIS laboratories are organizing training programme on product testing for BIS licensees regularly. Around 12 programmes are being conducted every year.
8.14 BIS has a well-documented scheme based on the international norms (ISO/IEC 17025) which is on the same lines as being adopted by NABL, for recognizing the outside laboratories whose services are being used for testing the products covered under BIS product certification scheme.
ENFORCEMENT8.15 In its endeavor to sustain the popularity of its Standard Mark, BIS has strengthened its enforcement activities. It organizes enforcement-cum-consumer awareness drives throughout the country to educate the common consumer about their rights, benefits of purchasing certified goods and different forms of misuse of its Standard Mark normally adopted by manufacturers/suppliers, so that the consumer can distinguish between a genuine mark and forged one. 122 search & seizures were also conducted for misuse of the Standard Mark and other violation of BIS Act during April to December, 2005.
CONSUMER RELATED ACTIVITIES
8.16 To meet with the growing expectations of consumers in the country, BIS has established a separate department with a specific mandate of providing consumer protection and welfare and dealing with public grievances. This department maintains liaison with Central Consumer Protection Council and consumer associations, and co-ordinates with the Ministry of Consumers Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on consumer issues. It is guided in its activities by a Consumer Policy Advisory Committee which advises BIS on all policy matters relating to efficient discharge of the functions and for making standardization and certification activities user-friendly. A well-defined procedure has been established for handling complaints. The complaints registered are monitored regularly.
8.17 BIS organizes a large number of awareness programmes for office bearers of Consumer Organizations and for consumers, all over the country. During the period 96 consumer awareness programmes were organized. Such programmes are also conducted jointly with Industries Associations/Traders Association/ Educational Institutions and Consumer related departments of State and Central Government, besides participating in delivering the lectures in Seminars, Workshops, Conferences. Exhibitions are also organized. Mass media like TV, Radio, other electronic media, Newspapers, hoardings etc. are used to create awareness among consumers regarding Standards, Quality and ISI mark. The Indian Standard IS 15400:2003 – 'Complaint Handling – Guidelines for Organizations' has been implemented in BIS. The Complaint handling policy and methodology of operation of complaint handling process has been aligned with the requirements of IS 15400.
PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
8.18 Promotion of Indian Standards assumes great significance and has been a prime objective of BIS. All standards are generally voluntary in nature. Promotional activities are, therefore, essential to implement the standards for deriving the desired benefits. The promotion of standardization involves varied interests ranging from ordinary consumers to educational institutions. Proper strategies therefore are adopted for this activity for the identification of users vis-à-vis. their needs. To propagate the concept of standardization and quality systems among small scale industries, BIS organizes awareness programmes comprising of lectures, discussions and video film shows where the participants are exposed to the concepts of standardization, quality system, product certification and other BIS activities.
8.19 The implementation of Standardization is monitored in the states through state level committees (SLCs), comprising of State Government officers, members of industry associations, consumer organizations and organized purchase agencies. State level committees meet at suitable intervals and assess the level of standardization in their states and also promote the implementation of standards and certification schemes of BIS. The State Governments and other agencies, as a result of close interaction and persuasion by the Bureau through SLCs, have adopted a number of Indian Standards as the basis for purchase and other activities. Many major purchasing organizations like Directorate General of Supplies and Disposal (DGS&D), Railway Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) and Defence have well defined procedures for adoption of Indian Standards relevant to their operations. During the period meetings of SLC’s for the states of Uttaranchal, Mizoram. Gujarat and Tamil Nadu were organized.
The students of technical and professional institutions are the secondary users of standards and they need to be educated in the fields of standardization and quality systems, so that they are well equipped to introduce quality in goods and services to be delivered by them. Recognizing this, regular Programmes on Educational Utilization of Standards are conducted with the specific aim to propagate the message of standardization and to create awareness about latest Indian Standards in various fields, amongst the faculty members and senior students. The faculty members when properly sensitized about the importance and availability of standards have been found to be instrumental in implementation of standards. During the period 5 programmes has been organized.
Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award
8.20 With a view to encourage manufacturers and service organizations to strive for excellence, Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award, with the approval of Government of India, was instituted by the Bureau in 1991. This annual award compares well with similar international awards, such as, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award of USA and European Quality Award. The assessment for this award is made on the basis of parameters, such as, Leadership, Policies objectives and Strategies, Human Resources Management, Resources, Processes, Customer focused results, Employees satisfaction, Business results, and Impact on environment and society.

Shri Girish Baluja, Chief Operating Officer, Moser Baer India Ltd.,Greater Noida receiving the ‘best of all’ awards from Hon’ble Minister Shri Sharad Pawar
Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Awards winners for the year 2005
SSI Facilitation and Information Cell8.21 Marching further ahead on the path of ‘total customer satisfaction’, BIS had set up a single-window Information & SSI Facilitation Cell at its headquarters in New Delhi which became operational since 1997 with the sole aim of providing variety of information /assistance to Indian industries, particularly in Small Scale Sector, which happens to be the backbone of Indian Industrial Scene. A number of entrepreneurs, consumers and professionals visit this centre for their quarries.
INFORMATION SERVICES
Library
8.22 BIS Technical Library is a national resource centre for information on standards and related matters and meets the needs of industry, trade, government, researchers and consumers alike. It is today the largest library of standards in the South Asian Region, covering a floor area of 1000 square meters. The collection includes about 6 lakh standards from all over the world and 50 000 technical books. The Bureau’s library system comprises the Headquarters’ Library (New Delhi) and four Regional Office Libraries at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Chennai.
Technical Information Services Centre8.23 Technical Information Services Centre (TISC) was set up in 1992 at New Delhi to provide information on standards, technical regulations and certification systems services. BIS has also been designated as WTO/TBT Enquiry Point by the Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India under the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement of World Trade Organization.
This centre also provides following services:
Clarifications on items falling under DGFT Notification no. RE 44.
Issuance of World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Issuers Identification Number (IIN), Registered Application Provider Identifier (RID), Institution Identification Codes (IIC) number in accordance to respective ISO standards
TRAINING SERVICES
Training Institute
8.24 To impart training to technical and management personnel from industry, consumer organizations, Public Sector Undertakings, Govt Bodies and Developing Countries, BIS has established the National Institute of Training for Standardization and Quality Management (NITS) as a residential Institute at Noida.
Training to overseas Participants
8.25 BIS has been organizing the International Training Programme in Standardization and Quality Assurance for developing countries of Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America every year since 1968. The Government of India offers limited number of fellowships to the nominees of many developing Countries under its Technical Assistance Plans for attending the programme. So for 38 such programmes have been organized. In 2004 an additional training programme on Management Systems has been introduced. So far 2 such programmes have been organized.
Training for representatives of Consumer bodies
8.26 NITS is also conducting training programmes on Consumer Protection for State and District level officials of Consumer Forums.
Other Training Programmes
8.27 The BIS organized training programmes for industry personnel in the field of statistical quality control, quality system documentation, quality system auditing, enhancing management representatives skills, awareness programme on standardization and quality system, product testing etc. Over 71 such training programmes have been organized from April to December 2005.
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
8.28 Since its inception in 1947, the then ISI and now BIS has been an active member of International Organizations namely: International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electro-technical Commission (IEC). It participates in various policy-making committees of these international standards bodies. BIS also holds secretariat of some of the important ISO/IEC Committees which are of trade interest to India. As member of ISO, BIS also takes active part in the development of International Standards with a view to protect the interests of Indian trade & industry.
8.29 India is a certifying member of the IEC System of Quality Assessment of Electronic Components (IECQ).
8.30 BIS is actively involved in Regional and Bilateral Cooperation Programmes pertaining to standardization, conformity assessment & accreditation etc.
REVENUE MOBILISATION
8.31 BIS derive its income mainly from certification, training institute and sale of Indian standards. The income from these resources during April – December 2005 was Rs 86.65 crores. The progress of income mobilization is given in Table – 3.
Table - 3
Progress of Revenue Mobilization(Rupees in crores)
__
Sl.No. Activities Progress during
----------------------------------------
2004-05 Apr-Dec 2005__
1. Certification 104.03 81.06
2. Training Institute 0.87 1.46
3. Sale of BIS Publications 5.6 4.13
_
Total 110.5 86.65

PUBLICITY8.32 BIS continued to publicize its activities through sustained use of mass media. Publicity activities targeted at common consumers were executed in Hindi and regional languages through radio spots, bus panels, hoardings, etc. Interviews and talks of BIS officials were telecast and broadcast from various stations of All-India Radio, Doordarshan Kendra’s and private TV networks. Monthly and quarterly bulletins and newsletters such as Standards India, EC Norm Scan, ‘IT - Standards’ etc were brought out regularly to keep the concerned interests informed on the developments in standardization at national and international level in specific fields.
8.33 BIS participated in a number of exhibitions/fairs in order to increase awareness among the consumers about the benefits of standardization. It also organized conferences and seminars all over the country to highlight the work undertaken in the field of standardization and quality systems.

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