KENYA – The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has now fully implemented its earlier announced CB Automated System, automating its management system certification process.

This is anticipated to improve the efficiency, efficacy, and productivity of the certification process when combined with remote audits (which are accessible to you on demand) and, eventually, improve service delivery for certified clients.

The system will encompass key features like e-application, e-quotations, e-planning of audits, e-certificates, and collaboration platform.

For initial certification, recertification, or transfer of certification, the Bureau notified that it would no longer process manual certification applications and hardcopy certificates.

“All management system certificates shall be generated by the automated system and notified to you upon completion of the certification process. Letters of continued certification shall also be generated by the automated system and notified to you upon the completion of the surveillance audits process,” read KEBS’ letter in part.

However, it was made clear that up until the expiration dates listed in the most recent generation of pertinent hard copy certificates, currently scheduled surveillance audits would be conducted outside the automated system.

KEBS launched the pilot phase of the program in September to ascertain its suitability for purpose.

The Bureau had requested clients to take part in this pilot phase by processing new (initial certification) and renewal(recertification) of certification requests using the automated system.

The new platform will create a database that will enable easy access to information to inform decision-making.

With digitization taking on the world, various regulators have rushed to meet their customers’ need for faster and more efficient services.

The USAID Rwanda through TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) funded Single Window Information for Trade (SWIFT), an initiative that virtually automated all of the Rwanda Standards Board’s services, at the beginning of the year.

Due to the transition from the manual system, which required frequent in-person trips to the Board, the automation is anticipated to significantly reduce the time and expense associated with requesting various services from the board by the business community and other clients.

Applications for System Certification, Training, Made in Rwanda Logo, Instrument Calibration, Sample Testing, Lab Designation, Different Licenses, and Authorization to Break Seal are among the new and improved services that are now accessible online.

Through the assistance of TradeMark East Africa, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) also introduced the “Integrated Standards, Quality Assurance, Metrology and Testing” (iSQMT) system in 2021.

TBS streamlined the development of standards, product certification, system certification, import inspection, metrology, and testing with iSQMT.

In April of this year, the Bureau began the second phase of the project, which aims to accredit testing laboratories.

Additionally, in order to increase productivity and turnaround times for better service delivery, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) automated a number of its services in 2018.

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