SQAM REVIEW -Final Report

April 2001

(Please note all files are in PDF Format,and some are large)

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Part 1 | Part2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part5 | Part 6 | Part 7|  Part 8

FOREWORD

PART A: INTRODUCTION

1. The role of SQAM in the environment and society

1.1 Physical metrology
1.2 Standards development
1.3 Conformity Assessment
1.4 Accreditation
1.5 Legal and Trade Metrology
1.6 Quality
1.7 Business Excellence
1.8 Regulatory Regime

1. Background to the review of the South African SQAM infrastructure

2.1 Objective and scope
2.2 Approach
2.3 Structure of this report

PART B: THE ENVIRONMENT - Part 1 | Part2 | Part 3 | Part 4

1. The domestic, regional and international economic environment

3.1 South Africa
3.2 The SADC context
3.3 South African international trade

1. Overview of the South African SQAM infrastructure and its regional counterparts

4.1 The South African SQAM landscape
4.2 Regional standards and conformance infrastructure

1. The needs of South Africa and the implications for SQAM

5.1 The need for South Africa to respond to international trends
5.2 The country needs derived from national imperatives
5.3 Stakeholder derived needs
5.4 Uniqueness of South African needs

PART C: THE SOUTH AFRICAN SQAM INFRASTRUCTURE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THECOUNTRY IN A REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT- Part1 | Part 2 | Part3 | Part 4 | Part5 | Part 5a | Part6 | Part 6a | Part7 | Part 8 | Part9

1. System wide issues

6.1 Interdependence of various SQAM responsibilities, Acts and implementation of technical regulations
6.2 System for formulating and coordinating long term strategic policy of SQAM institutions
6.3 Central register of accredited conformity assessment bodies, certified or registered companies and certified products

1. The regulatory environment

7.1 System for formulating and coordinating technical regulations
7.2 Regulatory marks and product labelling

1. The role of Government

8.1 Overview of the roles that governments play
8.2 Governments' recognition of, and involvement in the governance of SQAM institutions
8.3 Government funding of SQAM institutions

1. Mutual recognition agreements

9.1 The South African situation
9.2 International situation and practices
9.3 Conclusions: An MRA overarching strategy

1. Standards development

10.1 Overview of standards development
10.2 Positioning, recognition and governance of standards development organisations
10.3 Activities - The question of commercial and national interest activities
10.4 Requirement for amendment to the Standards Act
10.5 Funding of the SABS - Standards development
10.6 The standards development process
10.7 Standards development meeting the needs of industry

1. Physical Metrology - The National Metrology Laboratory (NML) of South Africa

11.1 Overview of physical metrology
11.2 Positioning, recognition and governance of NMIs
11.3 Funding
11.4 The NML meeting the needs of South African industry

1. Accreditation - The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS)

12.1 Overview of accreditation
12.2 Positioning, recognition and governance of accreditation service providers
12.3 Fields of accreditation
12.4 Funding
12.5 Accreditation support for regional and international trade agreements
12.6 SANAS meeting the needs of South African industry
12.7 Accreditation and compulsory specifications

1. Trade metrology - The trade metrology department of the SABS

13.1 Overview of trade metrology
13.2 Positioning, recognition and governance of trade metrology organisations
13.3 Functions
13.4 Funding
13.5 The trade metrology system meeting the needs of industry

1. Quality and business excellence promotion

14.1 Overview of quality and business excellence promotion
14.2 Funding
14.3 Meeting the needs of South African industry
14.4 Conclusions

PART D: CONCLUSIONS - THE ROAD AHEAD

15 The road ahead

Appendix A: Study Terms of Reference