Quality management system (QMS), meeting the requirements of international standards of ISO 9000 series, is in use at OAO “MSZ” since 1996. That is confirmed by the German certification body TUV CERT according to the results of certification audits in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 and also annual oversight audits in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005.   

QMS applies to design, manufacturing and delivery of:

• fuel assemblies and their components, materials and semi-finished products for NPP reactors, 
• cold-rolled tubes made of stainless steel, alloys and titanium.

Modern QMS of OAO “MSZ” was certified in December, 2008 by the German certification body TUV CERT for correspondence with ISO 9001:2000 requirements.

OAO “MSZ” long-range goal in the quality aspect

OAO “MSZ” long-range goal in the quality aspect is:

“Satisfaction of customers’ needs and expectations, earning of firm profit, necessary for continuous industry improvement and satisfaction of all interested parties”.   

QMS application provides the management of organizational, commercial and technical activity for OAO “MSZ” strategic goal achievement in quality aspect.

OAO “Mashinostroitelny Zavod” policy in quality aspect

OAO “MSZ”, the biggest Russian enterprise manufacturing nuclear fuel, carries out the full cycle of its production, beginning with uranium hexafluoride processing and uranium dioxide powder manufacturing and ending in fuel assemblies making.   

• Also OAO “MSZ” produces cold-rolled tubes made of stainless steel, alloys and titanium.

The main long-range goals of OAO “MSZ” in the quality aspect are:

Satisfaction of customers’ needs and expectations, earning of firm profit, necessary for continuous industry improvement of OAO “MSZ” and satisfaction of all interested parties”,

which can be achieved  by means of:   

• Manufacturing of competitive production, meeting the increasing needs and expectations of the customers;
• Holding and strengthening the ground in the world and Russian product markets;  
• Income growth;
• The achievement of modern level of production safety.

OAO “MSZ” immediate goals are:

• Holding prior product markets and entering the new ones;
• Production volume increasing;
• Development of new types production manufacturing;
• Improvement of production Q-factor;
• Production costs reduction;
• Ensuring of nuclear, radiation and industrial manufacture safety.

For these goals achievement OAO “MSZ” governing body assumes the following liabilities:

• to apply economically sound approaches and carry out the analysis of interested parties needs resting upon interests balance;
• to popularize high-quality labour advantages and realize personnel gradual attraction to active and continuous perfection;
• to encourage innovations;
• to follow the priority of nuclear, radiation and industrial safety insurance;
• to improve quality management system based on ISO international standards of 9000 series and raise its effectiveness.

To realize the policy in the quality aspect OAO “MSZ” is guided by the following principles:

• quality is a goal of primary importance for the enterprise in whole and every separate employee;
• quality is determined and estimated by the customer;
• quality isn’t achieved by means of problems correction but problems prevention;
• quality depends on the cooperation with suppliers and partners-enterprises;

• quality foundation takes place at every jobsite.

 OAO “MSZ” governing body calls the administrators of all levels to set an example in perfection activity for their employees, tend to form general responsible attitude to the quality as the most important factor of collective and every separate employee work.

OAO “MSZ” governing body intends to follow strictly the above mentioned policy; to be responsible for its realization and asks the personnel to back it.

OAO “MSZ” goals in the quality aspect

To realize the policy in view of market conditions and also for production, processes and QMS continuous perfection we usually develop “OAO “MSZ” goals in the quality aspect” for a period of 1-3 years and plan the resources supply. The goals are achieved by means of corresponding plant departments involvement and OAO “MSZ” and departments work planning. 

Annually OAO “MSZ” spends essential profit share for upgrading and replacement of technological, inspecting and testing equipment, introduction of new technologies, analysis and monitoring methods, personnel training.

In January, 2008 ”OAO “MSZ” goals in the quality aspect for 2008-2010” were developed and enacted at the enterprise by the General Director’s order. The works, mentioned in this document, are directed at the realization of the nearest goals (tasks), declared in OAO “MSZ” policy in the quality aspect. OAO “MSZ” goals in the quality aspect for 2008-2010 include 59 works, integrated according to specialization; responsibility, time-frame and presumable results are also determined.    

Quality assurance programs 

According to customers’ requirements, stated in the contracts, OAO “MSZ” develops quality assurance programs. Quality assurance programs include a certain procedure of quality assurance while designing, manufacturing and delivery of a particular product. In addition quality assurance programs are sent to the customers.

Audits

  According to the contracts the customers can carry out independent audits of OAO “MSZ” QMS. On average annually OAO “MSZ” QMS goes through 5 audits carried by the customers.

In turn OAO “MSZ” plans and carries out audits of raw materials and components suppliers.

On average annually OAO “MSZ” carries out 4 audits of suppliers. Audits results are taken into account while suppliers qualification.

“TUV CERT” audit was completed with the positive result. Management systems work stably.

Four independent audits took place at OAO “MSZ” in 2008. Independent audits results again confirmed quality management system successful functioning (including the corporate QMS).

Corporate quality management system audit at OAO “MSZ”, carried out by OAO “TVEL” representatives together with OAO “NZHK”, OAO “CHMZ” and OAO “TVEL-Invest” confirmed QMS correspondence with corporative regulatory documentation and DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 requirements. Consequently a new conformance certificate was issued.

Audits, carried out by the representatives of firms-consumers of nuclear fuel for NPP: AREVA NP (Germany), NAEK (Ukraine) confirmed that OAO “MSZ” was a qualified supplier of nuclear fuel.

No unconformities able to influence on positive estimation of QMS functioning and be a reason of QMS certificate cancellation was found in the course of audits.