Cement, Energy and Environment

14 system of the organization, and identify improvement opportunities. Internal audit and management review of the system help in continual improvement. The most important aspect of accreditation system is the quality and technical assessment carried out by expert assessors and the requirement of participation in PT (Proficiency Testing) and ILC (Interlaboratory Comparison) programmes. This helps in improving the quality and reliability of test results and overall service quality. Accreditation, thus, enhances competitiveness of the accredited body and helps in business expansion. 4.0 Role of NCB NCB is focused on Research and development in the field of cement and construction materials. Providing professional technical consultancy, based on R&D programmes, is an important area of activity for NCB. And accreditations strengthen NCB’s capabilities in generating reliable measurement data and validation of R&D results. The entire range of NCB services are carried out through six Corporate Centres from its units geographically located at Ballabgarh, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Bhubaneswar. The six Centres are: Cement Research and Independent Testing (CRT), Mining, Environment, Plant Engineering & Operations (CME), Construction Development & Research (CDR ) , Industrial Information Services (CIS), Continuing Education Services (CCE) and Quality Management, Standards and Calibration Services (CQC). Customer oriented services though these centres, regular analysis of customer feedback data and monitoring feedback trends for further improvement play key role in enhancing NCB’s competitiveness. 4.1 Certifications and Accreditations Maintained by NCB NCB is an ISO 9001:2015 certified organization . The organization has its testing and calibration laboratories accredited as per ISO 17025 for nearly two decades. It tests about 7500 samples of different materials in chemical and mechanical field. More recently, NCB has had the proud privilege of receiving ISO 17043 accreditation for PT services, first in the country, from NABL . Now, NCB is in the process of getting ISO17020 accreditation for inspection services, from NABCB (National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies), a body under QCI. These accreditations, providing the benefit of international acceptance, are strengthening NCB's capabilities in serving needs of cement and construction sector. It regularly conducts third party inspection of construction projects. It has conducted inspection of construction activities in Northern India, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Accreditation of inspection services would meet the needs of the country with regard to demonstrated capabilities in this vital field and help in construction of structures meeting design specifications in better way. This would pave the way for more durable and safe structures in the country. 4.2 NCB Services Considering the national needs, NCB is implementing time bound research and development programme, which is aimed at achieving a sustainable and environment-friendly development and growth of the Indian cement, building materials and construction industry. The research programme is being carried out through Centre for Cement Research and Testing and Centre for Construction Development and Research . Development of alternative technologies and materials and use of industrial wastes as value added products are the main focus of NCB’s cement and concrete research. Cements such as PPC, PSC, composite cements and multi- component blended cements, alternate aggregates obtained from industrial wastes and alternate bricks such as aerated autoclaved bricks/blocks are some of the eco-friendly and sustainable construction materials. NCB has world-class state-of-the-art chemical and mechanical testing, nondestructive testing and environmental laboratories. It evaluates cement and related materials, aggregates, chemical admixtures, corrosion inhibitors, steel, lime, clinker, refractories, alternate fuel, bricks, water etc. as per national and international standards in its ISO 17025 accredited testing laboratories. NCB contributes in building safe, durable and sustainable concrete structures in a big way. The world class testing and evaluation facilities, coupled with dedicated and experienced expertise available with NCB make it a unique organization. NCB provides entire range of services for raw materials evaluation, mining, plant engineering & operation of cement plants and energy and environment studies through Centre for Mining, Environment, Plant Engineering & Operation (CME) . This centre conducts studies relating to:  Survey and geological mapping for new limestone deposits using advanced techniques such as remote sensing and geophysical prospecting;  Computerized deposit evaluation & Mine planning;