The railway industry is a very specific sector of the economy. It is characterized by a fairly long supply chain, in which a large number of entities participate. The requirements for products are quite high, since its use is directly related to the safety of passengers and cargo.
Based on these features, a quality standard for suppliers, IRIS, was developed. Its holder is the UNIFE Association, located in Brussels. The initiators of the development were such well-known companies as Ansaldo Breda, SIEMENS, BOMBARDIER, etc. Let us further consider what the International Railway Industry Standard IRIS represents.
general characteristics
Assessment of compliance of railway products with the IRIS standard is carried out by independent organizations. Their list is approved by the UNIFE working group.
The IRIS standard, as the basis for the quality of goods in the railway industry, is based on the requirements of ISO 9001. In addition, it contains specific standards that are specific to the industry.
The goal of the IRIS railway standard is to ensure continuous improvement of the supply chain by preventing and reducing the shortcomings of the management system. A feature of the document is that it enshrines special requirements for project management.
The IRIS standard extends its scope to the manufacture of products for rolling stock. It includes electric locomotives, passenger cars, diesel locomotives, platforms, gondola cars. The IRIS standard also applies to components.
Document structure
It is similar to the standard applicable to automotive suppliers. The IRIS quality standard contains the basic requirements of ISO 9001 and specific standards for each section.
In addition, the document contains items that are not provided for in ISO. It is, in particular, about project management, the first inspection of the product, as well as the determination of value during the life cycle of the product, monitoring reliability, security, technical availability and support.
Benefits
The IRIS standard has a number of undeniable advantages over an industry or local control system. The document allows you to provide:
- Monitoring the stability of the quality and reliability of railway products.
- Reducing the number of local audits and, consequently, reducing the cost of conducting them.
In addition, the IRIS standard provides:
- A comprehensive assessment of the quality of manufacturers of railway transport of all types.
- Supplier Management
- Reduction of quantity and complete elimination of deficiencies in the supply chain.
- Carrying out activities that facilitate the coordination of operations and processes carried out in various areas of the work of railway enterprises.
- Formation of business plans.
- Management of orders, projects, contracts at various sites.
Due to these advantages, the standard has received the approval of the world community.
Document Sections
The IRIS standard includes:
- Requirements based on the requirements of ISO 9001, taking into account the specificity of the railway industry.
- Questionnaire. Based on it, the enterprise is evaluated.
- Database. It contains information about all enterprises that have passed the certification according to the IRIS standard.
Management tools
The value chain in the railway industry is quite large. That is why the standard focuses on project management. The process of value formation involves many elements and suppliers associated with them.
The standard provides for such tools as risk and time management and others that are not in ISO 9001. An enterprise implementing them gains significant advantages over its competitors.
Basic business elements
These should include a change management system and risk management. Today, many industry publications are of the opinion that the tools developed in previous years do not correspond to modern realities.
Using elements of risk management and a change management system, the enterprise forms the basis for analyzing the situation and creates opportunities for rapid response to market fluctuations.
Features of business valuation
The IRIS standard allows the company to get very real performance indicators. They are expressed in points.
The structure of the document contains more than 250 questions, the answers to which must be obtained in the audit process. They can be divided into 3 groups:
- Knockout questions. There are 12 of them. A negative answer to them will mean the termination of the verification and the restart of the certification procedure.
- Open questions. They are the most standard in the standard. Answers to them are given in the form of a description of a specific situation. For evaluation, a five-point scale is used.
- Closed questions. For each of them you can get a negative or positive answer. They are rated at 0 or 2 points respectively.
As a result, the overall result is formed not on the basis of the subjective opinion of the auditor, but in accordance with the level of effectiveness of specific measures implemented at the enterprise.
Explanations
If the score on a specific issue is 0 points, an additional audit will be assigned. Upon receipt of 1 point - the development of corrective measures. They must be implemented within three months. If the score is 2 points, measures are being developed to improve the situation. They must be carried out during the next audit. If these measures are not implemented, then the inspectors recognize the fact of non-compliance with the requirements.
The sum of the points obtained as a result of the assessment acts as a kind of starting point for making decisions on the subsequent actions of the entire enterprise and the specific units included in its composition. The final indicator is also the basis for future improvements.
Additional tools
These include LCC, 5S, FMEA, TPM, etc. They are very effective management tools. Assessment will depend on their implementation.
For example, to get three points for one of the points of risk management, it is necessary to use FMEA at the enterprise, and 3-4 points for the issue related to infrastructure - the 5S system. In other words, unlike the ISO standard, the company receives information about different tools with reference to a specific direction of activity.
Database
It includes 2 levels. At the first there is general information about the tests and certification performed. Access to this level has an unlimited number of persons. Interested parties can obtain data on such things:
- company name, address, contacts;
- approved certification status;
- validity period of documents;
- certificate distribution areas.
At the second level of the base there is information about the following:
- audit report;
- corrective action plan with a report;
- the number of points obtained during the assessment;
- Certificate
- other documents selected by the authorized body and the client.
Information of the second level of the database is confidential. The content of the available information and the list of persons who may familiarize themselves with it are determined by the client.
Development strategies
The IRIS certificate gives certain advantages to the company when participating in tenders, and significantly reduces the number of audits. Consequently, there are more opportunities for expanding the business. However, the effective development of the enterprise depends mainly on the chosen strategy. Let's consider some options:
- Cost Reduction Strategy. It provides for maintaining quality at a decent level with emphasis on reducing prices.
- Strategy associated with the offer of additional services. At the same time, those that are relevant to a particular client are selected and offered.
- Strategy related to innovation. The company's products and services appear on the market first and surpass the competitors' offers previously placed on the trading platform in functionality.
To implement each strategy, you need to find a specific buyer. Therefore, the company needs an appropriate market segment. In addition, you should choose a set of business processes or management tools.
An enterprise that maintains the required number of points in areas that are not strategically important and while maintaining the IRIS certificate can invest in priority activities and participate in tenders that are most attractive to them.