The National Standards and Quality System

Jean-Louis Racine

The World Bank

Cambridge, England

April 19, 2007

Knowledge Economy Forum VITechnology Acquisition and Knowledge Networks

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A Snapshot of the National Standards and Quality System

National and international consumers, public health and safety, natural environment

Firms and other organizations

National accreditation body

Conformity assessment bodies

National standards body National metrology institute

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Outline

• An Introduction to Standards

• The Standards Development Process

• The Conformity Assessment System

• Standards and International Integration

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An Introduction to Standards

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An Introduction to Standards

Types of Technical Standards: by Function

Information and reference standards

Variety-reducing

standards

Compatibility and interface

standards

Minimum quality and safety standards

M10 x 1.5-6g-S

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An Introduction to Standards

Types of Technical Standards: by Author

National standards (e.g. BS)

Regional standards (e.g. EN)

International standards (e.g. ISO)

Sponsored standards

(e.g. Adobe ‘pdf’ file format)

Formal standards: standards bodies Market standards: industry

Unsponsored standards

(e.g. computer keyboard

layout)

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An Introduction to Standards

Types of Technical Standards: by Enforceability

Mandatory (e.g. technical regulations, EU Old Approach Directives)

Voluntary (e.g. ISO14001)

Global supply chains (e.g. ISO/TS 16949 for

auto parts manufacturers)

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An Introduction to Standards

Benefits of standards

• Diffuse technology• Diffuse market information• Diffuse information on safety, health and

environmental regulations• Allow for specialization and economies of scale• Facilitate trade (especially shared standards)• Reduce transaction and search costs• Allow to harness network externalities• Increase competition by promoting interchangeability

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The Standards Development Process

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The Standards Development Process

Primary national standards body

-Accredits-Supervises

National standards body/ies

In decentralized systems only

Technical committees

-Votes on standards-Approves standards-Publishes standards

Public (consumers, industry, government, non-profits)

Coordinates standards program

Develops technical content

Comments on drafts

• At the national level:

Propose new standards

Submits drafts for public review

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The Standards Development Process

• At the international and regional level:– International standards organizations:

• ISO, IEC, ITU

– Regional standards organizations:

• CEN, CENELEC for EU/EFTA

• EuroAsian Interstate Council for CIS

– National participation in standards development is open and voluntary

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The Conformity Assessment Framework

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The Conformity Assessment Framework

• Certification– Provision of assurance that a product, service,

system, process or material conforms to one or more standards or specifications

– Often conducted by an independent third-party

– Typically involves a number of competing private certification bodies

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The Conformity Assessment Framework

Worldwide total of ISO 9000 certificates (ISO 9001 after 2004)

Source: ISO (2006)

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The Conformity Assessment Framework

• Testing, Calibration and Inspection– Testing determines the characteristics or performance of a

product or process according to a specific procedure

– Inspection relies on less sophisticated instruments than testing

– Calibration involves the determination of a measurement’s input and the magnitude or response of its output (accuracy & precision)

– Can be done internally or by an independent private body

– May be required to implement a quality control system

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The Conformity Assessment Framework

• Accreditation– Formal recognition that an organization or person is

competent to carry out specific tasks

• E.g. Certification bodies, inspection bodies, testing laboratories and calibration laboratories

– Accreditation is done against a specific standard

– Typically sought on a voluntary basis

– Most countries have a single national accreditation body

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The Conformity Assessment Framework

• Metrology– The study of a system of measures

– A National Metrology Institute

• Establishes the national measurement system

• Develops and diffuses measurement standards for basic units

• Diffuses metrological expertise in the economy

Measuring length with an interferometer at the UK National Physical Laboratory

Source: UK NPL website

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The Conformity Assessment Framework

National and international consumers, public health and safety, natural environment

Retailers, traders, students

Manufacturers, repairers, installers, researchers, universities

• The diffusion of measurement units, precision and accuracy in the economy

National metrology institute

Calibration laboratories

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The Conformity Assessment Framework

National and international consumers, public health and safety, natural environment

Firms and other organizations

National accreditation body

Conformity assessment bodies:certification bodies, inspection bodies, calibration

laboratories, testing laboratories

National standards body National metrology institute

Definition of units

Definition of units

Calibration certificates

Calibration certificates

Accreditation

Accreditation

Accreditation body standards

Accreditation body standards

Conformity assessment body standards

Conformity assessment body standards

Product, process, material and system standards

Product, process, material and system standards

Certification, inspection, testing and calibration certificates

Certification, inspection, testing and calibration certificates

-Enhanced quality, interoperability and compatibility-New technologies-Enhanced safety and health-Decreased environmental impact-Reduced search costs

-Enhanced quality, interoperability and compatibility-New technologies-Enhanced safety and health-Decreased environmental impact-Reduced search costs

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Standards and International Integration

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Standards and International Integration

National metrology institute

National standards body

National accreditation body

• Testing labs• Calibration labs• Inspection bodies• Certification bodies

Firms

Consumers & the general public

Exports compliant with regional and global standards

Quality, compatibility, safety, health

Regional and international standards & mutual recognition agreements

Conformity assessment

Accreditation

Standards

Calibrations

Standards

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Standards and International Integration

National metrology institute

National standards body

National accreditation body

• Testing labs• Calibration labs• Inspection bodies• Certification bodies

Firms

Consumers & the general public

Exports compliant with regional and global standards

Quality, compatibility, safety, health

Conformity assessment

Accreditation

Standards

Calibrations

Standards

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Standards and International Integration

National metrology institute

National standards body

National accreditation body

• Testing labs• Calibration labs• Inspection bodies• Certification bodies

Firms

Consumers & the general public

Exports compliant with regional and global standards

Quality, compatibility, safety, health

Regional and international standards & mutual recognition agreements

Conformity assessment

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Standards and International Integration

National metrology institute

National standards body

National accreditation body

• Testing labs• Calibration labs• Inspection bodies• Certification bodies

Firms

Consumers & the general public

Exports compliant with regional and global standards

Quality, compatibility, safety, health

Regional and international standards & mutual recognition agreements

Accreditation

Standards

Calibrations

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Standards and International Integration

National metrology institute

National standards body

National accreditation body

• Testing labs• Calibration labs• Inspection bodies• Certification bodies

Firms

Consumers & the general public

Exports compliant with regional and global standards

Quality, compatibility, safety, health

Regional and international standards & mutual recognition agreements

Conformity assessment

Accreditation

Standards

Calibrations

Standards