Antony:Need to Ensure Quality,Reliability of Eqpmt for Armed Force

New Delhi, Oct 4 (UNI) Defence Minister AK Antony today underlined the need for ensuring quality as well as maintaining the reliability throughout the life-cycle of equipment being used by the Armed Forces.

Addressing the Golden Jubilee Celebrations here of the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), the Minister observed that with the defence sector growing at a fast pace the role of DGQA assumed an important dimension as cooperation between nations in the defence sector increased.

''The DGQA's role will undoubtedly increase. The Government is already going ahead with Reciprocal Government Quality Assurance (RGQA) Agreements with other countries. The onus will be on all of you to attain international standards and strive to be among the best in the world," Minister Antony said.

DGQA traces its roots to the Inspectorate of Armaments established at Ammunition Factory, Kirkee in 1869. With the transformation in portfolio of Weapons&Equipments, the Organisation has undergone many changes over the decades. The existing Organisation structure dates back to September 27, 1957 when the Controller General of Defence Production was raised.

DGQA is a service provider with multi-disciplinary, multi-location organisation with multi-technology orientation. The organisation is a very important component of the Defence Equipment Management as it provides total QA cover for all types of arms, ammunition, equipment and stores required by the Armed Forces.

DGQA is responsible for quality assurance of defence stores produced by Ordnance Factories, Public and private sector units as also procured through import. It initiates all actions necessary to ensure that the Armed Forces get the entire range of arms, ammunition, equipment and stores of the desired quality so as to enhance combat efficiency and effectiveness of the fighting forces.

DGQA provides quality assurance services not only to the Army but also marine engineering, weapon sensors and support systems of the Navy. The services are also extended to Air Force for common-user items.

The other customers of DGQA Quality Assurance Services are suppliers namely the Ordnance Factories, DPSU and private sector units. Besides, DGQA carries out quality assurance activities for foreign vendors under Reciprocal Government Quality Agreements. It has skilled manpower and wide network of laboratories having NABL accreditation to carry out its task effectively. It has its own dedicated Proof Ranges for carrying out proof of armament, stores manufactured indigenously as well as through import.

UNI