NSAI Draft Strategic Plan: Public Consultation
Contents:
Foreward
An Introduction to NSAI
Ø Who we are and what we do
Ø Role and Function
Values
Mission and Vision
High Level Goals and Targets
Ø Goal 1 – Open Market Infrastructure
Ø Goal 2 – Enhance Business Performance
Ø Goal 3 – Fostering the Innovations and Knowledge Economy
Ø Goal 4 – Supporting Sustainability
Foreward
NSAI present the draft strategic plan for 2013-2015.
This is the 4th strategy prepared by NSAI.
The work of the NSAI is critically important on both an industry and society level. NSAI can be considered as an invisible infrastructure, supported by a technical knowledge repository, enabling people confidently to go about many aspects of their daily business and lives.
NSAI is looking to achieve the high level goals listed through it’s the development of the 2013-2015 strategy. This draft strategy has been developed by the senior management of the NSAI with input and guidance from the NSAI Board and in close consultation with the staff of the NSAI.
The draft strategic plan sets out our mandate, mission, vision, values and high level goals up to the end of 2015. These will set the overall strategic direction of the NSAI during this time.
The draft strategic plan is now available for public consultation and we welcome comments and suggestions.
All submissions received will be considered by NSAI and it is anticipated that the finalised plan will be submitted to Minister Bruton for approval in October 2012.
The closing date for submissions is Monday September 10th 2012.
The strategic plan is available to download from
http://www.nsai.ie/About-NSAI/Publications.aspx
Submissions should be sent:
by email to or
by post for the attention of:
Patrick Bracken, Director of Corporate Services
NSAI, 1 Swift Square, Northwood, Santry, Dublin 9.
Submission to include: Name | Email | Organisation | Contact Number
An Introduction to NSAI
NSAI is a statutory body established by the National Standards Authority of Ireland Act 1996. It operates under the aegis of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The establishment of NSAI, in 1997, created an independent body with responsibility for the national standardisation and conformity assessment mandate.
Who we are and what we do
NSAI provides Ireland with an infrastructure for products and services to be developed, traded and relied on nationally and around the world. This infrastructure is essential to Irish business and also contributes positively to decisions on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), where organisations rely on developed standards and conformity assessment infrastructure to achieve their objectives, e.g. in the developing medical devices sector.
Role and Function
Since its establishment, NSAI has merged two metrology programmes into the organisation. Uniquely in Europe, NSAI now hosts four of the five primary technical pillars identified by UNIDO as prerequisites for an efficient trading economy (See Fig. 1). These are:
1. Standardisation (NSAI Standards)
2. Conformity Assessment (NSAI Certification)
3. Legal Metrology (NSAI LMS)
4. Metrology (NSAI NML)
Fig. 1 Source - UNIDO/ ISO – ‘Fast Forward’, 2008
These contribute to enabling trade and protecting the consumer.
At its highest level the purpose of NSAI is to provide a dynamic organisation using measures and standards to benefit society and give Irish enterprise a global advantage.
Throughout the current strategy, 2009-2012, the attainment of this mission has been supported by four-high level goals:
- Open Market Infrastructure – Maximising trade development and consumer benefits
- Enhanced Business Performance – Enhancing the progress of Irish businesses
- Fostering the Innovation and Knowledge Economy – Promoting R&D, innovation and intellectual capital
- Supporting Sustainability – Addressing energy management, material usage and environmental protection as these become increasingly important business parameters
Management of Standards, Conformity Assessment (in the form of Certification and Agrément) and Metrology ensures confidence in the foundation of Ireland’s trade infrastructure. The interconnected nature of the four technical pillars ensures that Irish enterprise and consumers reap thebenefits of an efficient trading system.
NSAI serves to underpin the national trade infrastructure, which supports the key objectives of Government in providing an environment that is both supportive of enterprise and maintains Ireland’s trading reputation for quality goods and services, while also protecting the consumer.
NSAI Values
Current Values
The 2009 – 12 Strategy identified the following six organisational values which we need to uphold and exhibit to allow the organisation both carry out it functions and to thrive:
Ø Expert
Ø Dedicated
Ø Impartial
Ø Engaged
Ø Pride in our work
Ø Thorough
In re-examining these values we concluded:
Ø they are still vital to our work
Ø they are exhibited by staff throughout the organisation and appropriate guidance for staff to aspire to
Proposal – It is recommended that no change is necessary to the values.
Comments / observations:
NSAI Mission Statement
The Mission Statement should define the fundamental purpose of the Authority, succinctly describing what we do, and how and why we do it.
It defines the critical processes and informs us of the desired level of performance.
Current Mission Statement 2011
“NSAI enables Ireland to effect best international standards across all business practices and protects Irish consumers by setting regulatory standards and enforcing measurement accuracy.”
Proposed Revised Mission Statement [based on Strategy 2013-2015]
“NSAI enables innovation, promotes trade, facilitates fair competition and protects consumers through measurement accuracy and the development, interpretation and application of standards”
Comments / observations:
NSAI Vision Statement
The vision statement should outline what the organization wants to be, or how it wants the world in which it operates to be. It concentrates on the future and is a source of inspiration.
Current Vision 2011
“A Dynamic organisation using measures and standards to benefit society and give Irish enterprise a global advantage”
Alternate Vision Statement proposals
“Providing confidence in Irish business and society through a shared commitment to quality”
Or
“An Ireland where business and society are assured confidence through a commitment to quality”
Comments / observations:
High Level Goals
High Level Goal 1 – Open Market Infrastructure
NSAI will help to open up international markets for Irish companies and develop the domestic market to the benefit of the consumer through focused application of the instruments of standards, metrology, certification and Agrément
Current Goals/ Targets – Open Market Infrastructure
• Drive high compliance for instruments and packaged goods.
• 4,500 business premises visits and 16,000 inspections.
• 3 targeted inspection campaigns
• Increase the Authorised Verifiers base
• Develop NSAI’s profile within the food industry and achieve 50 registrations / 100 site visits in FSSC and FCM.
• Extend National Motor Vehicle and component schemes and approvals to NSSTA, IVA, COP, ATC and VTN.
• Implement ‘Standards SME’ including the SMEST programme and SME Standards Road show.
Comments / observations:
High Level Goal 2 – Enhances Business Performance
NSAI will help Irish companies and organisations achieve world-class performance through certification and advisory programmes and access to international for all in which standards are set and markets shaped.
Current Goals/Targets – Enhanced Business Performance
• ‘Quality Ireland’ Initiative on the importance of quality and process especially for SMEs. (APJ-2012)
• Promote the achievement of standards such as ISO 9001, Excellence Through People and similar management standards. (APJ – 2012)
• 250 new Management System certifications
• 40 new ETP certifications
• Achieve accreditation to OHSAS 18001, ISO 50001 (IRL) and ISO 27000 (US)
• ‘Metrology Ireland’ as a Centre of Excellence.
• 4,500 Precision instrument calibrations.
• Measurement consultancy and/or audits to 14 companies/labs (APJ – 2012)
Comments / observations:
High Level Goal 3 – Fostering the Innovations and Knowledge Economy
NSAI will assist the science and enterprise development agencies in supporting R&D activity in business and encouraging interest in science, engineering and technology
Current Goals/ Targets – Fostering the Innovation and Knowledge Economy
• Provide a local high-quality, wide-scope, responsive Medical Device CE mark certification service. (APJ – 2012)
• 100 new clients (20 Irl and 80 international)
• West of Ireland office for Medical Devices.
• ‘Risk Rater’ product for quality and regulatory teams to track changes to Standards and critical documents.
• Irish expert group for Lean Six Sigma standards. (APJ – 2012)
• Cloud Computing Procurement text (APJ – 2012)
• Recruitment initiatives including to select young Electrotechnical professional to participate in IEC AGM.
• Standards agenda linking to Research, Innovation, the Horizon 2020 initiative, and linking to the EU commission.
Comments / observations:
High Level Goal 4 – Supporting Sustainability: Assisting Resource Management
NSAI will primarily play a facilitating role in helping a wide range of companies embrace sustainable principles, a particular example of which is reducing carbon emissions in line with national policy
Current Goals/ Targets – Supporting Sustainability: Assisting Resource Management
• Conduct 500 Installer audits related to the national retrofit programme for insulation and carbon emissions.
• Project manage the substantial national annex requirements for all harmonised Standards linked to the Construction Product Regulations with the DoELG.
• Develop a fast tracked Irish standard on Energy Efficient Design Methodology.
• A design methodology to deliver the most energy- efficient plant and process, this project aims at developing guidance to achieve near to zero carbon emissions in construction of large plant development
Comments / observations:
NSAI Draft Strategic Plan 2013-2015: Public Consultation Page 11