What to do to improve the quality of used machinery and equipment appraisal?

In order to exchange experiences, provide guidance on regulations and discuss solutions to improve the quality of appraisal activities of used machinery, equipment and technological lines, the Department of Technology Assessment and Appraisal (Ministry of Science and Technology - S&T) organized a workshop on "Experience and proposed solutions to improve the quality of appraisal activities of used machinery, equipment and technological lines".

The workshop was attended by experts from the Committee for Standards, Metrology and Quality, the Office of Quality Accreditation, the Technical Center for Standards, Metrology and Quality 3, along with a large number of appraisers, representatives of appraisal organizations, import enterprises and units inside and outside the Ministry of Science and Technology ... to exchange expertise and provide direct professional guidance to appraisal organizations.

Director of Technology Assessment and Appraisal Department Pham Thi Van Anh at the Workshop.

Strengthening coordination between management agencies and appraisal organizations

Speaking at the workshop, Director of the Department of Technology Assessment and Appraisal Pham Thi Van Anh said that Decision No. 18/2019/QD-TTg dated April 19, 2019 of the Prime Minister regulating the import of used machinery, equipment and technological lines has been implemented for more than 6 years and has proven its important role in preventing outdated machinery and technology from being imported into Vietnam.

According to the Director of the Department of Technology Assessment and Appraisal, the process of carrying out assessments and appraisals in the past time was a period of "doing and learning from experience" for both the management agencies and appraisal organizations. The workshop was an opportunity to systematize current regulations, update new points, and listen to feedback from appraisal organizations to remove practical obstacles.

Director Pham Thi Van Anh emphasized: Appraisal organizations are the "extended arm" of the Ministry of Science and Technology, contributing to controlling the quality of imported machinery and equipment to ensure technical requirements, environmental protection and public health.

The compliance and transparency of the appraisal organization directly determines the effectiveness of state management. Therefore, timely communication and sharing of difficulties between enterprises and management agencies are key factors to avoid errors, limit risks and ensure the goals of both parties during the implementation process.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has also directed the development of software to manage appraisal activities, helping management agencies update information in real time, while supporting appraisal organizations to report conveniently, reducing manual operations.

Many shortcomings in current appraisal activities

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Director of the Department of Technology Assessment and Appraisal Dang Dinh Tung said that the current appraisal activities still have many limitations: The capacity among appraisal organizations is uneven; The difference in expertise between technical managers and appraisers; The application of systems such as TCVN ISO/IEC 17020, ISO 9001 is still inadequate; Lack of equipment for appraisal activities; Not yet mastering technical requirements such as calculating capacity, efficiency, traceability of equipment...; Many organizations depend on documents provided by customers, leading to a lack of objectivity; Some criteria in the regulations are still general, easily leading to unfounded assessments.

In addition, regulations on the minimum number of appraisers and the requirement for periodic inspection and supervision are still inadequate. Sanctions for violations such as suspension or revocation of designation are still not strong enough.

In order to improve the quality of appraisal, perfect the management system and enhance appraisal capacity in the coming time, Deputy Director of the Department of Technology Assessment and Appraisal Dang Dinh Tung proposed 7 groups of solutions:

Supplement and update the conditions for appointing appraisal organizations: Increase requirements on the number and capacity of appraisers and equipment conditions.

Perfecting sanctions for violations: Suspension, revocation of designation, and disclosure of violation information.

Strengthen inspection and supervision of appraisal activities through multiple channels and at appropriate frequency.

Amend technical regulations and appraisal criteria to suit reality and ensure consistency.

Organize regular seminars to update information, share experiences and raise awareness of appraisers.

Standardize the competence of appraisers, including granting certificates of eligibility to appraise used equipment.

Encourage digital transformation in appraisal activities, towards process transparency and increased management efficiency.

Towards a professional and transparent appraisal system

At the workshop, Dr. Phung Manh Truong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute for Standards and Quality, National Committee for Standards, Metrology and Quality, instructed how to look up Vietnamese standards at https://tieuchuan.vsqi.gov.vn/ with nearly 20,000 issued standards and more than 14,500 national standards still in effect.

Foreign standards lookup portal https://store.accuristech.com/

https://standards.iteh.ai/ http://globalspec.com database of machinery equipment in the world for inspection organizations to refer to.

When looking up international standards, you should look up pages with the most comprehensive and integrated information, looking up according to the following criteria: Standard number, keywords, classification code, specialized group, validity and issuing agency, Dr. Phung Manh Truong recommends.

In addition, Dr. Phung Manh Truong also guides on standard retrieval: Determining standard levels; International standards; Regional standards; National standards; Industry, association, and union standards; Basic standards (companies).

Some notes when checking the information of the standard that Dr. Phung Manh Truong gave: The validity of the standard (still valid, expired, in the process of review/replacement/amendment/cancellation); Carefully study the history of the standard; Relevant standards, technical regulations, legal documents...; Need to carefully read the introduction, foreword,

Scope of the standard; Technical requirements standards with corresponding testing methods; Distinguish between standards with year of issue and standards without year of issue; May include many standards on testing methods, determine PPT arbitration.

Standards comparison guide: Identify the correct standard level: International standards (ISO, IEC, ITU); Regional standards (EN); National standards (ANSI, DIN, BS, NF, CAN, UNI, JIS, KS, TCVN); Equivalence level of standards; How to identify the Equivalence level of standards... Dr. Phung Manh Truong emphasized.

The workshop also presented some experiences in conducting appraisals of imported used machinery, equipment and technological lines and in investment projects; ISO 17020 standard - some main contents in appraisal activities of used machinery, equipment and technological lines of appraisal organizations; Procedures for appointing appraisal organizations to conduct appraisals of used machinery, equipment and technological lines.

At the end of the workshop, the representative of the Ministry of Science and Technology affirmed the desire to build a regular forum between management agencies and enterprises to maintain dialogue, remove difficulties and improve the quality of appraisal activities. The recommendations and problems from enterprises will be an important basis for the Ministry of Science and Technology to continue to improve the mechanism, ensuring that the appraisal of used machinery and equipment is increasingly professional, transparent and contributes to more effective technology control./.

According to Vietnam Science and Technology Magazine

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/lam-gi-de-nang-cao-chat-luong-giam-dinh-may-moc-thiet-bi-da-qua-su-dung-197251201221810539.htm