Ready Mix Concrete Plant Capability Scheme (RMCPCS) : Structured Approach for Concrete production

Introduction

Infrastructure sector in India has seen a substantial growth since the last decade. In this era of huge construction and infrastructure development, two requirements play a major role in these sectors –

• Speedy Construction
• Improved Quality of Concrete

The early 90’s witnessed the onset of the Ready Mix Concrete production technology in India. With the increased popularity of this new technology, the key RMC players joined hands to form the Ready Mix Concrete Manufacturers Association (RMCMA) in 2002.

RMC MA came forth with a vision to develop, maintain and continuously improve the self-regulatory framework of quality of concrete and the RMC plants. In order to achieve this, RMC MA has been continuously putting efforts to devise a quality scheme revolving around RMC plants. RMC MA wanted to launch a scheme which could be applicable all across the country. As a result, a Quality scheme for RMC was launched in 2008.

The durability, the local aspect of the ready mixed concrete production and use, the recyclability of fresh and hardened concrete and all the other environmental benefits offered by ready mixed concrete, means that it can truly claim to be “A Natural Choice”.

Role of RMC MA and Quality Council of India (QCI)

RMC MA, being a non-profit industry organization of leading ready mixed concrete producers from India, is aiming at making ready mixed concrete the preferred building material of choice across the whole of India and to take the RMC industry in India at par with those of any advanced countries.

In order to propagate the cause of encouraging the usage of Ready mixed concrete as one of the efficient and cost-effective way for supplying fresh concrete with required performance expectations, the RMC MA joined hands with the Quality Council of India (QCI). The intent was to develop an auditable criteria focusing on strengthening the RMC manufacturing processes to gain stakeholder confidence in the quality of RMC being produced.

A MoU was signed between the RMC MA and QCI to develop a suitable criterion with the objective of assuring quality in operations and processes of RMC plants. QCI has taken a lead to establish an independent third party “Voluntary RMC Plant Certification Scheme”. The RMC production control criterion has evolved with the support of the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) under the ministry of housing and Urban poverty alleviation, Government of India in support of the Voluntary RMC Plant Certification Scheme of the QCI.

Why Certification?

Since concrete is a manufactured product, its quality and uniformity depends on the controls over its manufacture. It must be produced with suitable ingredients accurately combined to specific proportions. These must be thoroughly blended and the finished product delivered according to the requirements of the purchaser. Although success depends upon several factors, a vital pre-requisite is the availability of proper, well-maintained equipment and an efficient production facility.

The quality of a ready mix concrete is a chain of requirements in both concrete stages, fresh and hardened. To achieve these requirements, comprehensive quality control procedures are expected to be applied in the concrete batch plant as well as in the construction site to control processes related to –

• Storage of raw materials
• Testing of raw materials
• Concrete batching
• Casting
• Consolidation
• Curing and others

RMC Capability/ RMC 9000+ Certification

The RMC Production Control Criteria is designed to meet the above stated intent. The RMC plant Certification scheme is operated by the QCI for both the Capability Certification as per the RMC Production Control Criteria as well as the RMC 9000+ Capability Certification covering ISO 9001. The following certification schemes are available:

• RMC Capability Certification based on the RMC Production Control Criteria
• RMC 9000+ Capability Certification based on implementation on Quality Management Systems as per ISO 9001 and the RMC Production Control Criteria

Benefits of RMC Capability/ RMC 9000+ Certification

• Structured Approach for Concrete production
• Consistent supply chain – Clarity of requirements from specification to delivery
• Improved process controls contributing to –

          a. Consistent product quality

          b. Improvement in effectiveness

          c. Managing of product non-conformances to a greater extent

          d. Focused approach towards improvement in process efficiency

• Audit of production facility/ operations/ processes by a 3rd party – An impartial and objective approach 
• RMC Capability Certification synchronized with ISO 9001 – An integrated approach beneficial as ISO 9001 is mandated in infrastructure projects.
• Certification of Compliance – A major indicative of the Plant capability to produce quality concrete on consistent basis thereby giving a competitive edge.

TUV Nord is a German multinational with core business in Quality, Environment, Occupational Health & Safety, Social Accountability, Information Security, Food Safety & many other management system standards. With a geographical footprint in more than 70 countries, TUV Nord is one of the world’s leading certification bodies.

TUV India has more than 8000 system certification customers having certified to various management system standards comprising of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS18001/ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO50001, AS9100, ISO29990 and ISO29001 etc.

TUV India as one of the approved certification bodies of QCI/NABCB for RMC will be very happy to provide certification to RMC Plants. For more details please check https://www.tuv-nord.com/in/en/services/rmc-rmc-9000-capability-certification/