Nectec, TISI work closely on local PC certification
The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has been working with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) to provide industrial certification for local PCs.
Somjet Sinsathapornpong, director of Standards Management Office II at TISI, said the collaboration between TISI and Nectec would certify PC assemblers who achieve industrial standards issued by TISI, including standards 1956 and 1561, which are equal to the international Federal Communications Commission/Underwriter Laboratories standards. The move is to establish Thailand's own standards and encourage local PC businesses to be more competitive by achieving them at a much lower cost than applying international standards. "Three companies have already been certified with standard 1956," said Somjet. Under the collaboration, TISI will work as the standards issuer while Nectec will be an inspector and certification body for TISI. "Eventually we will partner other organisations, not only Nectec, to help us become the certifying body for these standards. Being the certifying body requires them to establish facilities for inspecting and certification processes as well," he said. Pansak Siriruchatapong, Nectec's director, said this move was further action by Nectec to support local PC assemblers. Nectec initiated local standards under its benchmarks in 1998 and has certified 200,000 local PCs. It now plays a role as an inspector, helping TISI to check PCs. Nectec plans to establish facilities to inspect PCs. It also plans to apply to become a certifying organisation under the ISO/IEC Guide 65. "In the next few years, Nectec will work closely with TISI and firms to strengthen the local PC industry. Standards are vital to competitiveness," said Pansak. Jamras Sawangsamut, president of the Association of Thai Computer Industry, said his body would provide standards data and a list of local PC makers achieving the standards. Eventually, to encourage the industry, local standards will be included as a specification in government purchasing regulations. Vira Intanate, CEO of IT distribution at SVOA, said standards provided benefits to firms and users as they gave buyers more confidence in local PCs with no need to pay more for international brands.
Asina Pornwasin The Nation
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