Publication of the ISO 19443 standard in 2018 marked the introduction of the first global standard for safety and quality in the supply chain of the civil nuclear industry. Building on the ISO 9001 quality management standard, ISO 19443 defines the specific requirements for companies and organisations supplying products and services that are important for nuclear safety. The scope covers the entire supply chain and includes purchasing and delivery, design and maintenance services as well as manufacturers of components and systems.

“Nuclear safety is of critical importance“, says Hans-Michael Kursawe, CEO of TÜV SÜD Energietechnik Baden-Württemberg GmbH. “Given this, a solid safety culture that can be documented on the basis of ISO 19443 must be established throughout the supply chain in the nuclear industry.” Key aspects of this standard include involvement of top management, consideration of a process approach, engagement of relevant interest groups and observation of the principle of continual improvement.

After accreditation by COFRAC, TÜV SÜD is now one of the first companies worldwide to be able to provide certification under accreditation in accordance with ISO 19443. “Our certification processes bring together our long-standing experience in the nuclear industry with an international network of experts and auditors who have in-depth knowledge of the local markets and the situation in the companies undergoing certification”, explains Dominique Kugler, CEO of TÜV SÜD France.

TÜV SÜD’s services in this area cover training on ISO 19443, pre-audit gap analysis and the actual certification audit.

More detailed information on ISO 19443 and the services of TÜV SÜD is available at https://www.tuvsud.com/….