The Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) – Metro Manila South Chapter (MMS) held its first session of the webinar series, “Chemical Engineers in the Forefront of Consumer Protection” on 04 December 2021, highlighting the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) and providing vital updates on the current progress and innovations in the engineering field, specifically in protecting the consumers.
The webinar’s purpose is to show how Chemical Engineers play an important role in consumer safety across variety of disciplines. Chemical engineers, for example, were involved in the establishment of the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) regulations, and are also consulted in the development of specific national or industry standards. Chemical Engineers also play an important part in instilling trust in the accreditation process of testing laboratories and the certification process of Certification Bodies (CB) for management, goods, and services, as they are frequently called upon as technical assessors or experts.
The National Quality Infrastructure and Chemical Engineers
National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) is a crucial component of a country’s competitive infrastructure, which is required for economic success. Metrology, standardization, and accreditation are the three fundamental components of NQI. A unified NQI is interconnected, coordinated, and has a sense of oneness, with all activities going in the same direction and no need for duplication. Components should function together as a system in a coordinated and coherent manner to enhance the industry’s competitiveness and efficiency as well as to safeguard consumers and meet the citizen’s needs for NQI services.
Furthermore, a strong NQI allows manufacturers to compete, traders to meet technical criteria of trading partners/customers, and the country to avoid becoming a dumping ground for substandard goods. In addition, it also allows regulators to adequately safeguard consumers, contributes to the development of quality culture among the citizens, improves quality of life, and serves as a good posture tool.
With this, Chemical Engineers should be involved in a strong NQI in the areas of standardization, accreditation, metrology, NQI promotion, producing high-quality commodities, and protecting consumers. Chemical Engineers should also be included in the advocacy and a coordinated and coherent framework is required to produce a unified, responsive, and sustainable NQI.
The Role of Chemical Engineers in the Accreditation Process
The notion on certification and accreditation was explained by DTI-PAB Director, Engr. James E. Empeño in his presentation, “Chemical Engineers: Ensuring Confidence in the Certification Process through Accreditation”. He explained that a Certifying Body (CB) certifies a consumer product manufacturer based on ISO 9001 through an audit process, and the CB is then accredited by an Accreditation Body (AB) based on ISO/IEC 17021 through assessment, and the AB is then peer evaluated by an international accreditation body according to the ISO/IEC 17011.
The importance of accreditation is that, it reduces trade barriers and makes it easier for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to do business through Mutual Recognition Arrangements and Multilateral Recognition Arrangements (MRA/MLA). It improves product and service competitiveness by utilizing accredited conformity assessment services, which fosters trust and provides a competitive edge. It also advocates consumer safety.
Certification bodies, testing laboratories, inspection bodies and other conformity assessment bodies are accredited based on a set of criteria and procedures that determine technical competence. Technical assessors and experts such as chemical engineers are called on to undertake a thorough evaluation of all aspects of these businesses, to guarantee that they are competent in offering these services.
Chemical engineers are frequently used as assessors or experts because they have a diverse set of skills, including the design of chemical processes, which is critical for industrialization, involvement in the management of manufacturing facilities, and the development of chemical safety and environmental procedures, to name a few.
As a result, chemical engineers play an important role in the accreditation process because they help in ensuring the technical competency of businesses that provide conformity assessment services – a function that is critical in improving product and service competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.
Release Date: 13 December 2021.