Changmei Technology Begins ISO 22163 Rail Certification with TÜV

In mid-July, Shaanxi Changmei Technology formally initiated the ISO 22163 certification process after signing an agreement with TÜV, the globally recognized inspection and certification body, in May. The standard, widely considered the most rigorous management framework for the rail industry, builds on ISO 9001 foundations while adding risk-based thinking and specific requirements for product lifecycle safety and supply chain traceability. For Changmei, obtaining the certification is a strategic move to qualify for more international bidding opportunities and satisfy increasingly strict buyer mandates.

To lead the effort, the company has established an internal IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard) steering group headed by executive vice president Zhai Zongchao and chief engineer Zhang Faming. The team includes departmental managers and internal auditors who will work through documentation updates, process streamlining, and targeted training over the coming months. An external consultant, Dr. Yang Zhansheng from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, conducted the initial orientation session in late June, walking participants through the standard’s structure and common nonconformities observed during first-time audits.

The timeline for completion is not fixed, but the certification group has mapped out a phased schedule: gap analysis and document revision through July, followed by internal audits in August, with the external audit tentatively planned for September. Department heads have been asked to designate process owners for each functional area to ensure accountability. While the paperwork is substantial, the company sees the exercise as an opportunity to clean up interfaces between engineering, procurement, production, and quality assurance—areas where communication breakdowns have occasionally caused delays.

Management views ISO 22163 not merely as a certificate to hang on the wall but as a discipline that will tighten operations regardless of whether the company ultimately bids on overseas contracts. The rail supply chain is becoming more integrated across borders, and the firm wants its systems to match that reality, whether the customer is domestic or foreign.