Meeting international quality standards

have had a tremendous impact on the global business environment. Indian companies, too, are sprucing up plants and operations to get this accreditation, which is essential if their goods and services are to gain access to the vast European market of more than 350 million consumers. Twenty-five per cent of India's exports are directed to the EC. Since 1990, more than 70 Indian companies and more than 40,000 worldwide have secured ISO certification.

Assessment and ISO registration are done by third-party certifiers. The Indian consultants of UK's Bureau Veritas Quality International (BVQI) have been assessing BHEL's plants. BHEL's high pressure boiler plant at Tiruchirapalli got ISO 9001 certification in March 1993 and the seamless tube production plant obtained ISO 9002 in July 1993. Its electronics division received ISO 9001 certification in September 1993 and the boiler auxiliaries plant at Ranipet got ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certification in October.

The Bhopal plant is also being assessed by BVQI and BHEL officials are confident of securing the certification soon.