NABCB

As NSC members are aware, Quality Council of India (QCI), through its National Accreditation Board
for Certification Bodies (NABCB) is engaged in providing accreditation services and creating
conformity assessment infrastructure in India as per international norms.

Recently, QCI/NABCB has signed the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) of the International
Accreditation Forum (IAF) for accreditation of ISO 14001/EMS Certification Bodies in Sydney,
Australia. This was done only after satisfactory completion of a rigorous 2 year long process of peer
evaluation of NABCB.

This recognition means that the accreditations granted by NABCB to Certification Bodies for
ISO 14001 certifications are equivalent worldwide and any ISO 14001 certificate issues to any
organization by an NABCB accredited CB and carrying the NABCB logo will be acceptable
worldwide.

QCI/NABCB is already signatory to the IAF MLA for accreditation of ISO 9001 certification bodies
since 2002.

QUALITY COUNCIL OF INDIA

Quality Council of India has been set up as a joint initiative of the Government of India and the Indian
Industry. It is a non-profit autonomous body registered as a society under the Societies Registration
Act.

The objectives of QCI are to:    

 Establish an accreditation structure in the country

 Provide information on Quality & related standards
 Spread quality movement in India

Besides establishing a national accreditation structure, QCI will provide strategic direction to the
quality movement in the country.

QCI will work to:

Promote, coordinate, guide and implement a national quality initiative for building confidence Indian
products and services and for improving the competitiveness of Indian industry.

Establish National Accreditation Boards suitable for the country and in accordance with the relevant
international standards and guides for :

Bodies certifying quality management systems, products and carrying out third party inspection
(National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies, NABCB)

Quality Management Personnel and Training Courses (National Accreditation Board for Auditors
and Training, NABAT)

Testing and Calibration Laboratories National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration
Laboratories (NABL)

Raise quality consciousness in the country through National Quality Campaign (NQC), such as
conducting seminars, conducting study tours and using other forms of promotion, by promoting
business excellence through quality award schemes, holding competitions etc.
QCI will have mutual recognition agreements with other international bodies.

The QCI structure is as follows:

QCI
NABCB Secretariat
NABAT NQC
NABL QIES

The Society is governed by a Council comprising of 31 members, which includes representatives of

various Ministries, Departments, and Industry Associations. A Governing Body provides the strategic
focus to the activities of the QCI. Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman, Tata Industries Ltd. was the first
Chairman of QCI. The present Chairman Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Managing Director, Sundaram Clayton
took charge from Mr. Tata in July 1999.

The activities of various Boards are as follows:

National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB)

NABCB undertakes assessment and accreditation of Certification Bodies as per Board’s criteria in line
with international standards and guidelines. A Board comprising of various stakeholders from the
industry and the government has been constituted to provide direction to NABCB.

In consultation with a core group of experts the Quality Manual, procedures and application package
for NABCB schemes has been prepared. The Board will be ready to launch the accreditation schemes
of Quality Management Systems and Environmental Management Systems after final review of the
schemes.

NABCB was also represented at the annual plenary meeting of International Accreditation Forum
(IAF) in Vienna from September 27 to October 1, 1999.

National Accreditation Board for Auditors and Training (NABAT)

NABAT certifies auditors of Quality Management System & Environment Management System. It also
certifies training courses for such auditors in line with international requirements. A Board comprising
of various stakeholders from the industry and the government has been constituted to provide
direction to NABAT.

In consultation with a core group of experts the Quality Manual, procedures and application package
for NABAT schemes was prepared. This has been approved by the Board. The Quality Management
System (QMS) schemes of the Board will be launched shortly. The Environmental Management
Systems schemes will be announced after about 3 months of the launching of QMS schemes.

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)

NABL is functioning since 1985 and was registered as an independent society in 1998. NABL
undertakes the assessment and accreditation of Testing, Calibration, Clinical and other laboratories
as per Board’s criteria based on international guidelines.

More than 200 testing and calibration laboratories have been accredited till date.

For more details please contact the Director, NABL at the following address:

NABL
Department of Science and Technology
Technology Bhawan, New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi – 110 016
Tel no.: 686 4642 / 685 7661
Fax no.:686 4642 / 686 3866
E-mail : akc@alpha.nic.in

National Quality Campaign (NQC)

The focus of the campaign is on spreading awareness on advantages of compliance to quality

standards and continuous improvement.

An expert Committee of eminent personalities has been formed to provide strategic direction for the
campaign activities has been formed. Few activities of the campaign are as follows:

· Spreading of message through use of various media

· Organize specialized training for Industry

· Promotion & organization of Seminars and Conferences to share information

· Encourage curriculum of TQM in Educational Institutions

QCI was also represented on various national and international forums including:

First meeting of the Experts of the IOR-ARC Member Countries" , Colombo

Workshop organized by US-AEP (United States-Asia Environmental Partnership) for the accreditation
bodies of ten Asian Countries, Taiwan

ISO-CASCO (Conformity Assessment Committee of International Organization for Standards),

Geneva

Meeting of SAARC countries on the Standards, Quality Control and Measurements, New Delhi

Asia Pacific Laboratory Cooperation (APLAC) annual conference, New Delhi

National Board for Quality Promotion

National Board for Quality Promotion (NBQP) This Board is entrusted with the task of
carrying out National Quality Campaign. The Campaign aims to spread awareness on the
importance of achieving international level of quality of products and services. The
campaign, apart from focussing on industry, looks at other key areas like health, education
and public services. An expert committee of eminent personalities provide the strategic
direction to the activities of this Board.

This Board promotes quality consciousness through various initiatives. NBQP organises
Annual National Quality Conclave. The Conclave showcases achievements in the arena of
quality and provides opportunities for exchange of global experiences in quality improvement
strategies.

NBQP has instituted a national award on Economics of Quality, to promote the successful
Indian case studies which have taken quality initiatives leading to financial gains in real
terms. The Board also conducts research studies to assess the effectiveness of services in the
area of conformity assessment. This provides regular feedback to the various constituents for
the continual improvements. The Board also takes initiatives in facilitating and promoting
standards on quality.

Focus Areas
 To spread the awareness on quality through various media

 To organise specialised training/ workshop by national and

international experts

 To promote business excellence through quality promotion

schemes, awards etc.

 To sponsor seminars and conferences aimed towards

promoting good business practices

 To encourage research in the field of quality

 To develop programmes for building competitiveness of

SMEs.