The operational experience gained in the management and control of products and services in the production chain of the nuclear energy sector has led C&P S.r.l. to obtain, as early as 2022, the first in Italy, accreditation for the provision of quality management system certification services in accordance with/with reference to the standard ISO 19443:2018 – UNI/EN/ISO 193443:2022 “Quality management systems – Specific requirements for the application of ISO 9001:2015 by organizations in the supply chain of nuclear energy sector supplying products and services important to nuclear safety (ITNS)” which defines the quality management system requirements for companies that supply products and services in the the entire production chain in the nuclear energy sector and in particular for products and services important for nuclear safety.
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The standard was published in 2018, as a result of the collaboration between the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is normally engaged in the development of standards for the safety and use of such energy by member states within a framework of national standards.
The ISO 19443:2018 standard includes all the fundamental requirements for quality management specified by the ISO 9001:2015 standard, therefore it starts from a proven basis for the development and implementation of QMS and at the same time allows to focus attention on aspects of primary importance for the sector, such as:
- Risk analysis;
- Nuclear safety culture;
- Determination of ITNS elements and activities;
- Step-by-step approach to the application of the quality management system;
- Compliance with engineering and regulatory and stakeholder requirements (customers, main contractors, national and local authorities, etc.);
- Project Management / Order Management;
- Supplier management (prevention of defects, reduction of scrap and waste in the supply chain);
- Compliance and safety of the products supplied and consequent safety of personnel and stakeholders.
As a specific standard for quality management systems for companies operating in the entire production chain of the nuclear energy sector, it is a candidate to be a point of reference for their development and implementation and to be soon requested by most of the main contractors in the sector.
Companies that can benefit from this standard are those that carry out:
- Design, development, manufacture of products, equipment, plants, dedicated structures;
- Development and provision of dedicated equipment, equipments, plants and facilities;
- Supply of dedicated components;
- Provision of dedicated equipment assistance and repair services;
- Provision of technical, operational and support services (e.g. non-destructive testing, etc.).
How to get certified...
Companies that want to access QMS certification services must send a specific request for quotation to C&P S.r.l.
The request for quotation for a service can reach C&P S.r.l. in different ways:
- Telephone and/or verbal request.
- Written request via email and/or other support.
C&P S.r.l. will send the applicant (authorized representative of the customer) the Form AM021N “QMS Certification Services – Request for Quotation” to identify the requested service. The form contains the information necessary to fill it in and to send it back to C&P S.r.l.
The information that the company will have to provide concerns:
- Scope required for certification (description of activities and products services);
- Characteristics of the company (name, address, number of employees, significant aspects of its activities/processes, seasonality, applicable legal/mandatory requirements);
- The number of sites where the QMS is implemented (main office, secondary sites, temporary sites), as well as the information useful to identifying the significant aspects for each site (address, number of employees, the activities/processes implemented at them);
Information relating to all processes outsourced to the company, which affect compliance with requirements;
- The standards or other requirements on the basis of the applicant organization wants to be certified;
- Information regarding the use of consultancy services related to the management system;
- Provisions such as security clearances required for the auditor to access specific areas and/or information and materials of the organization identified as sensitive and relevant to the purpose of certification.
C&P S.r.l. will review the information received, asking the company if necessary to supplement it and formulate a service proposal/offer that will be sent together with the regulations for the provision of services to the company, (in this case to the person in reference identified in his request for proposal).
The company must re-send a copy of the offer and all the attached documentation, signed for acceptance to the following e-mail address: : amministrazione@cpinspection.com.
The offer signed for acceptance by the Company Representative is considered, after review by C&P S.r.l. (offer + attached documentation signed for acceptance without modification) to all intents and purposes as a purchase order.
For the first certification cycle, which lasts 36 months, the process of planning and delivering certification services involves the definition of a verification/audit program that includes, as a minimum:
- Initial certification audit divided into two phases (Stage 1 Stage 2).
- Periodic surveillance audits at least annually.
The subsequent certification cycles, also lasting 36 months, the process of planning and delivering certification services involves the definition of an audit program that includes, as a minimum:
- Certification renewal audit to be carried out before the expiry of the certification (specific service contract must be confirmed before the renewal audit is performed).
The duration of the audits is determined in accordance with the procedures of C&P S.r.l. and the relevant legislation:
- ISO/TS 23406:2020 “Nuclear sector – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification or quality management systems for organizations supplying products and services important to nuclear safety ITNS”;
- Accredia Technical Regulations;
- Based on the size and number of locations of the client’s organization/client and the complexity of the activities and processes part of the QMS purpose/scope.
Further information can be found in our document DOC 035N “Regulations for the provision of services”, we also remain at your disposal for any clarification.