MAPNA Locomotive Engineering and Manufacturing Company (MLC) has managed to obtain an International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS) certificate.
IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard) is a global system for the evaluation of rail sector companies. It is based on the ISO 9001 standard, but it also includes specific requirements for the railway industry, such as project management, change management, and design.
The certificate was granted to the company following five days of meeting with representatives of an international body in Karaj, Alborz Province, starting August 19.
The MAPNA subsidiary has achieved the “silver” quality performance level. Only five percent of companies active in the industry have so far managed to achieve this standard.
IRIS certification is mandatory for sales in Europe, and it is recognized by major railway operators and manufacturers around the world.
IRIS certification is issued by independent certification bodies approved by UNIFE (Union of European Railways Industries), which is the organization that developed and manages the IRIS standard.
IRIS certification is valid for three years, after which a recertification audit is required. IRIS certification can be integrated with other management system standards, such as ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), or ISO 27001 (information security).
IRIS is a significant initiative that aims to take rail quality management a step further and to foster innovation and excellence in the railway industry.
There are three quality performance levels namely Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
MAPNA Locomotive Engineering and Manufacturing Company, the leading company in the rail division of MAPNA, was established in 2007. Its initial project involved the production of 150 Iran Safir locomotives, licensed by Siemens.
Starting production in July 2010, the company operates on a 160,000-square-meter facility with a yearly capacity of 120 locomotives and rail vehicles. It is equipped with workshops for bogie, body, painting, assembly, and testing, enabling the manufacturing of various locomotives.
The primary focus of the company lies in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of diesel-electric locomotives, shunting locomotives, metro wagons, trainsets, and passenger locomotives.