SLSI and quality standards maintenance

Ruwanthi ABEYKOON

STANDARDISATION: Standards are an important contributor to economic performance. Many industries depend on standards to define crucial aspects of product and service safety, reliability and quality, which reassure customers and enable markets to work effectively.

Several Ministries, State Organizations and industries have shown a keen interest in obtaining standards for their products and services.

Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) is the National Standards body, which was established under the Bureau of Ceylon Standards Act No. 38 of 1964 with the principal objective of promoting quality through standardization in industry and commerce.

Director Marketing and Promotion of SLSI, Wasantha Meewaddana explained the role of SLSI in maintaining the quality of goods and services.

"There are two instruments to maintain quality. Rules and regulations must be implemented while facilitating quality. Various organizations implement rules and regulations. SLSI does not operate in this but it facilitates to maintain quality," He explained.

Meewaddana pointed out that SLSI carries out eight major services.

* Formulation of standards

* Information services through library

* Product testing

* Calibration of measuring instruments

* Training in quality management and standardization

* Certification

* Sri Lanka National Quality Award

* Import Inspection Scheme

"Standard is a measuring yard of quality. Level of goodness is specified by these standards. A knowledgeable committee will implement the standard and when it is approved by the Council of SLSI it becomes a national standard," Meewaddana explained.

He added that all national standards, various technical books on quality, journals, and international standards are available for those interested at the library at SLSI. Amongst the many services of SLSI certification plays a vital role. SLSI offers 10 certifications under their program.

The SLS Mark scheme, and the Energy efficiency label scheme (for electrical items) are for products while the other eight are system certification schemes.

Certification schemes for systems are as follows:

* ISO 9001 -Quality Management System

* ISO 14001 -Environmental Management System

* HACCP (hazard analysis critical control points)-Food Safety

Management System

* ISO 22000 -Food Safety Management System

* OHSAS 18001 -Occupational Health and Safety Management System

Certification (OHSMS)

* SA 8000 -Social Accountability Management System - It covers issues related to child labour, women labour etc.

* GMP -Good Manufacturing Practice - If a Sri Lanka Standard is not formulated, the SLS Mark cannot be offered and in such a situation offering

GMP certification is recommended. It is more relevant for SME sector.

* ISO 27001 -Information Security Management System.

Within the last 03 months SLSI has awarded 28 certificates to Small and Medium enterprises (SME) covering quality, food safety, environment and occupational health and safety.

Out of them 15 certificates were granted under the SLS mark product certification scheme, 06 certificates under the HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical control point and ISO 22000:2005 Food Safety Management System Certification, 04 certificates under the ISO 9001:2000 System certification scheme and 01 certificate each granted under OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System, SA 8000 Social Accountability and ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System Certification Scheme.