Miscellaneous - Act

Continuous Improvement of Quality Through Problem Solving Process

ACMA Centre for Technology has, for the first time, published a book on Quality which specifically speaks of the need for continuous improvement to reach a high level of quality performance.

As the title suggests, this publication will open doors to Quality, particularly, for the small and medium enterprises. It provides a simple explanation on the main concepts, tools and techniques to be applied for problem solving and implementation of continuous improvement projects. It also, highlights several case studies and quality tools that can help in achieving improvements and bringing about a change towards becoming a Quality Company.

If you are looking to start improvement processes in your Company, this book provides excellent assistance through the study of easy and realistic cases while the application of clear and simple problem solving tools, helps to take that correct step in the right direction.

The author of this book is Mr K S Satyanaraynan who is a Mechanical Engineer and presently heads the Quality Assurance Department in Shriram Pistons & Rings Ltd, Ghaziabad.

ACT – BIS Seminar : Appraisal on Certification of Safety Related Auto Components -
21 July 2000

Many autocomponents have to undergo a type approval and through a certification process. Several of the components and items need to be marked according to the BIS Certification Marking Scheme and the number of items classified as safety related items under the CMVR will increase in future.

All these individual Standardization, Certification, Type Approval and BIS Marking Schemes which have to be followed and / or applied are in most cases not clearly interpreted and therefore not fully complied with by the manufacturers.

ACT and BIS had organized this seminar in order to provide detailed information and clarification on the different scheme requirements.

The seminar started with the welcome address given by Mr. Vishal Lalani, Director Indication Instruments. Mr. Lalani’s company actually manufactures products falling under the category of safety related components.

In his welcome speech he pointed out, that more attention ought to be payed to safety in general and to safety related autocomponents, in view of the tremendous increase in numbers of automobiles on the roads which automatically create hazards situations. Also, Standardization as well as relevant Systems and Schemes would be affected and get another dimension, when WTO becomes effective in 2003.

Mr. V. K. Jain, Additional Director General BIS, inaugurating the seminar gave a brief on the Bureau of Indian Standards and its objectives of the Standardization system and procedures. He mentioned that so far about 17000 Standards for different industrial sectors had been developed, all of which serve as safeguards.

The technical session was opened with a presentation by Mr. A.R. Gulati, Director BIS. We learnt about the national and international standardization system and the process of formulating the specific standards. He, also, mentioned the importance of interaction between committee and panel members as well as the involvement of manufacturers.

The next presentation was on BIS Certification Marking Scheme for Safety related items given by Mr. U. N. Putatunda, Director BIS. Mr. Putatunda spoke on the certification for type testing and the certification marks. This should represent a third party guarantee, that the customer will receive products or goods which conform to the applicable standards. Standards, he said, are made to ensure that the customer is happy. He explained how to apply for the certification and what were the essential requirements for achieving the appropriate licence.

Post lunch was a presentation by Mrs. Rashmi Urdhwareshe on Type approval and Certification for safety related items when she, especially, deliberated on the procedure related to automotive components under the rule No.124 of the CMVR. It was felt that there should be an uniform system for S - marking. However, this has to be worked out in the future mutually with the parties involved such as BIS, ARAI, VRDE, CIRT and the Automotive associations.

Finally Mr. M. K. Bhatia, Director BIS gave an overview of the testing and laboratory facilities of BIS and the capability to provide their services to the automotive industry.

The seminar was closed by Mr. Klaus Goehring, Counselor ACT who thanked the Speakers for their excellent presentations. Special thanks went to Mrs. Urdhwareshe who had traveled all the way from Pune to Delhi.

More than 30 ACMA members and non members participated in the seminar.

SPECIAL APPLICATION SCHEME
For Benchmarking Through The International Competitiveness Gauge

ACMA CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY (ACT) and the SMALL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BANK IF INDIA (SIDBI) offer a special application scheme for participation in the benchmarking tool.

The so called International Competitiveness Gauge (ICG) has been developed primarily for the assessment of the performance of small and medium auto component companies. ACT has brought the inherent advantages of ICG for the small scale auto component manufacturers, to the attention of SIDBI who agree that benefits will accrue for the small scale sector if benchmarking services are utilised.

SIDBI and ACT, therefore, have worked out a scheme through which financial assistance up to 80%, for one time participation, would be made available which would allow SSI companies to easily participate in a benchmarking exercise. In real terms it means that from a total amount of Rs.12,500/- (one time participation), SIDBI would subsidise up to Rs.10,000/- and the participating company would pay Rs.2,500/- only.

This special opportunity means SSI enterprises will learn of the performance of their enterprise; know where the company stands; what kind of gaps exist and how to bridge these gaps.

The ACT-SIDBI scheme covers a limited number of companies and just a few slots are open. Should you wish to join the benchmarking programme / exercise, please do it now by filling up the enclosed form.

N.B. This offer, at present, applies to Northern Region Members only. Depending on the success of the Scheme, it would be opened to the other regions.