Quality Assurance Subcommittee | Working Group Responsibility Description

Compendium of Subcommittee Status

Section 9: Working Group Responsibility Description

The following represent the titles of the ISM-RIF-QAS Working Groups. Immediately following are the respective responsibility descriptions.

I. Communications Working Group
II. Compliance Working Group
III. Conference Planning Working Group (Standards/Training)
IV. Policy Working Group
V. Transit Working Group
VI. Warranty Working Group

Responsibility Description: Communication Working Group ISM-RIF-QAS

Overall Objective
The objective of the Communications Working Group of the ISM-RIF-QAS is to keep the Railroad Industry informed of the activities of the ISM-RIF-QAS.
Responsibilities
  1. Work with Railroad Industry trade press to arrange for the periodic publishing of a list of suppliers having a quality system consistent with the ISM-RIF-QAS quality program.
  2. Create and disseminate information as needed on compliance requirements.
  3. Work with the trade press to publish information on the ISM-RIF QAS programs.
  4. Work with non-industry related press to arrange for publishing information related to ISM-RIF-QAS programs.
  5. Review and recommend acceptance to ISM-RIF-QAS and issue approved program brochure.

Responsibility Description: Compliance Working Group ISM-RIF-QAS

Overall Objective
The objective of the Compliance Working Group of the ISM-RIF-QAS is to administer supplier compliance to the program.
Responsibilities
  1. Provide a list of applications for quarterly review by the QAS (Railroad members only).
  2. Mail certificates of compliance (quarterly).
  3. Maintain historical data base of supplier applications.
  4. Provide feedback to suppliers regarding application status.
  5. Keep a list of suppliers that have applied and status.
  6. Provide quarterly & annual list of compliant suppliers to Communications Working Group for publication (list should be by commodity group).
  7. Collect all applications from suppliers.
Some Existing Guidelines are:
  1. Compliance means that the supplier has a quality system that conforms to the QAS program requirements.
  2. Compliance Working Group does not decide on compliance. This is done quarterly during a meeting of the QAS by all railroad representative members.

Responsibility Description: Conference Planning Working Group (Formerly Standards/Training Working Group) ISM-RIF-QAS

Overall Objective
The objective of the Conference Planing Working Group of the ISM-RIF-QAS is to provide quality-training programs for the railroad industry and provide an opportunity to network.
Responsibilities
  1. Determine training needs of suppliers and railroads.
  2. Establish priorities and plan an outline to satisfy the training requirements.
  3. Determine location and time for training.
  4. Selection of qualified instructors.
  5. Measure effectiveness of training.
  6. Communicate training opportunities to the railroad industry.

Responsibility Description: Policy Working Group ISM-RIF-QAS

Overall Objective
The objective of the Policy Working Group of the ISM-RIF-QAS is to maintain, revise and implement all policies that pertain to the subject group.
Responsibilities
  1. Control all existing policies by creating a “Policy File,” manually or in a personal computer file.
  2. Assign document numbers with revision dates and create a master list with existing policy subjects.
  3. Work with the ISM-RIF-QAS group in order to revise existing policies or create new ones as needed.
  4. Publish and distribute policies of the group as needed.
  5. Benchmark group’s policies with policies from similar groups throughout North America.
  6. Assist in development of new policies according to ISM-RIF-QAS group needs.
  7. Interpret existing policies and guide ISM-RIF-QAS group to make decisions on issues that pertain to the group’s activities.
  8. Select, review, and revise the chosen Quality Standard.
  9. Determine, review, and revise which auditor accreditation agencies are acceptable.

Responsibility Description: Transit Working Group ISM-RIF-QAS

Overall Objective
The objective of the Transit Working Group of the ISM-RIF-QAS is to increase Transit participation in the ISM-RIF-QAS and to merge the program for assessment of the quality processes of suppliers currently in use by Transit systems with that currently in use by ISM-RIF-QAS.
Responsibilities
  1. Develop Auditing standards and procedures that are acceptable to all, while continuing to improve quality of products and services.

Responsibility Description: Warranty Working Group ISM-RIF-QAS

Overall Objective
The objective of the Warranty Working Group of the ISM-RIF-QAS is to enhance the business process of warranty management through the use of advanced technologies, new methodologies, and business processes whenever possible and cost effective. In addition, the committee will explore ways in which to make warranty and the complete life cycle analysis process a mutually beneficial process to both parties.
Responsibilities
  1. Review new technologies applicable to warranty process improvement including bar code, Internet/world wide web, “best practices” bench marking, and other that may be brought up by committee members.
  2. Develop, approve, and adapt any new standards that will be complementary to the current ISM label standards and that may be brought by the committee such as bar code, communications via EDI, the use of the Internet, etc.
  3. Communicate whenever possible with other ISM committees to help solve common and mutual problems, i.e. EDI.
  4. Continue to communicate ISM warranty labeling standards to suppliers in order to achieve as high degree of supplier participation as possible.
  5. Explore ways in which warranty management can help improve a railroad’s ability to track overall part and component life cycle analysis (from purchase order through the entire part’s useful life period).
  6. Using ISM standards and guidelines, help foster a mutually beneficial relationship between both parties involved in the warranty process.
  7. Through the committee members, monitor whenever feasible, the success of the ISM labeling standards and correct, whenever possible and appropriate, program deficiencies and irregularities.