IRIS – International Railway Industry Standard

Certification of Management Systems According to IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard).

In addressing the specific requisites of the railway industry for contractors’ quality management systems and their standardization, the International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS) has complemented the ISO 9001 standard. Formulated by the international working group of experts for the railway industry, led by the UNIFE (Association of the European Rail Industry), the IRIS standard incorporates additional specifications. This working group, initiated by UNIFE, garners support from operators, systems integrators, and equipment manufacturers in the railway sector.

IRIS delineates the requirements for the quality management systems of manufacturers producing components for the railway industry. It encompasses the complete scope of ISO 9001 and the principles outlined in ISO 9004, along with other specific conditions essential for quality management systems, as mandated by integrators and operators within the railway domain.

During certification, IRIS serves as a tool for independently assessing an organization’s capability to meet the technical specifications of IRIS, customer requirements, and the stipulations for effective functioning and continuous improvement of the quality management system.

The standard provides practical application instructions, maintaining the confidentiality and protection of sensitive business information during audits. Certification body approval for conducting these assessments is transparent, with UNIFE recognizing only a select number of highly qualified certification authorities. The audit scope is precisely defined based on the organization’s size and the number of branches.

Built upon the structure of ISO 9001, IRIS supplements it with specific requirements tailored to the railway industry’s needs, including project management within design and development, risk management, Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety (RAMS), and Life Cycle Costing (LCC).

Key features of the IRIS standard include mandatory requirements denoted by “must,” recommended requirements for system development denoted by “should,” and a methodology for assessment. Audit results are evaluated based on the level of fulfillment, not on a good/bad principle. Some requirements carry “knock out” status, rendering the audit impossible if not met. A 0-4 scale is used for measuring the level of development.

Benefits of Quality Management System Certification According to IRIS:

• Successful IRIS implementation creates a win-win situation for manufacturers, systems integrators, operators, and business partners.
• Recognition of IRIS certification by foreign customers.
• Preference for defect prevention and reduction of variability and losses in the supply chain.
• Identification, management, and continuous improvement of processes, including product development, purchasing, maintenance, and servicing.
• Application of modern methods and tools for organization and product quality management.
• Guarantee of manufacturing process stability, ensuring stable and high-quality products for customers.
• Demonstration of the expediency, efficiency, and effectiveness of the implemented quality management system by an independent third party.
• Objectivity and transparency ensured through the use of an approved and independent certification body recognized by the railway industry.

The IRIS certificate replaces individual audits by other parties from at least four leading manufacturers:

• Alstom Transport,
• Ansaldo Breda, 
• Siemens Transportation Systems, 
• Bombardier Transportation.

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