Auditing and Assessments
Most of our vehicle inspectors and some of our assessment engineers are also trained auditors, with some registered under IRCA. These staff have a wealth of experience in all types of auditing, which include detailed design controls, safety management, embedded safety related software, processes, product as well as the normal range of quality management audits required of any ISO9001: 2000 approved companies.
Examples of embedded safety related software include traction control, tilt control, brakes and door systems. Product audits include bodyshells (steel and aluminium), bogies, auxiliaries and doors.
Correl Rail has also been accredited by Rail Safety and Standards Board as a Railway Industry Supplier Approval Body (RISAB). As such, Correl Rail is required to demonstrate a thorough understanding of key issues in the areas of risk in a railway environment, including appropriate technical and assessment competence. Such assessments are comprehensive and focused on the overhaul of components to ensure that suppliers of safety critical products to the railway industry have adequate systems, processes, competence, resources and procedures.
This team is lead by the Operations Director who has previously been Quality Manager of a large rolling stock manufacturing and assembly plant in the UK.
Unique Approach
The approach of both audit and assessment was chosen by CORREL Rail following the principles upheld in the 'Yellow Book' guidance on safety case, where a clear difference is drawn between the Audit, which ensures that the processes are being followed correctly, and the Assessment, where the actual output of the process is assessed for compliance and suitability.
This approach is used in, for example the processes of depot and site qualification. This may well include, but not be limited to the following:
- Review, audit and assessment of the relevant QA procedures applicable to the type of work
- Review, audit and assessment of the depot or site facilities
- Review, audit and assessment of the depot or site staff competency management process
- Assessment of the depot or site staff for their suitability for the related work
- Assessment of the actual work output for compliance.