OREANDA-NEWS. September 25, 2009. This policy document will form the basis for cooperation between Russian Railways and its manufacturers of engineering products. Implementing these key policies will involves 3 stages, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways. 

In the first phase (2009-2011), corporate standards will be developed that define the requirements for products and the quality management system for manufacturers, documents on voluntary certification and the declaration of products. Plans will be developed together with the manufacturers to implement the requirements of the IRIS standard.

By optimising the supply system and competition among components manufacturers, the cost of the product will be based on its life cycle cost and performance indicators in operation.

In the second phase (2012-2014), Russian Railways will cooperate with product manufacturers on introducing the main elements of strategic quality management, including through by switching to the requirements of the IRIS standard and using modern quality tools.

Agreements will be concluded with product manufacturers about the timing of the introduction of the IRIS standard and regular evaluations will be conducted and brought into alignment with the requirements of this standard.

The third stage (2015) will see the completion of the strategic quality management of products used by Russian Railways. The transition to a system of voluntary certification and the declaration of products and a quality management system will be fully implemented, and product manufacturers will begin active cooperation with each other and their union in order to ensure a guaranteed supply of high quality products.

This period will also see a reduced participation of Russian Railways in producing the final product and a concentration on core activities, while efforts to optimize costs will have a necessary impact on improving the manufacturers’ product quality.