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. |