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ALPI - Association of Independent Test Laboratories and Certification Bodies
Address: Via Battistotti Sassi, 11
City: 20133 Milan
Country: Italy
Founded in Milan, in 1987, ALPI is a non profit professional Association, incorporated in Italy, which represents Third Party Organizations (both private and public Bodies) providing, on a base of technical, commercial and administrative autonomy, technical and scientific servicies in the fields of applied research (Research Laboratories) and of conformity assessment (Test and Analytical Laboratories, Calibration Laboratories, Certification Bodies of products, systems and personnel).
The institutional and administrative structure of ALPI is constituted by:
The General Assembly
The Executive Council
The Auditors and Arbiters Council
The Presidency (President and Vice-Presidents)
The General Secretariat
The Technical Secretariat
The Accounting Department
The operating structure consists of:
TECHNICAL SECTIONS
These are the bodies in charge of the study of the technical and operational issues of concern for the profession of the Members.
There are two main technical Sections corresponding to the fundamental categories of Operators represented by the Association:
Research and Test Laboratories Section; This Section has, at present, four Technical Committees:
Research Laboratories,
Accredited Laboratories,
Laboratories for Chemical Analyses,
Calibration Laboratories.
Certification Bodies Section, having today one main Technical Committee "Notified Bodies" (namely Bodies officially authorized to issue attestation of conformity to the essential requirements of the UE Directives), comprising, in turn, several SubCommittees active on the single Directives (Machinery, Personal Protection Equipment, Safety of Toys, Gas appliances, Medical Devices, etc.)
ORGANIZATIONAL SECTIONS
These bodies have been created to gather the Members characterized by distinctive elements of homogeneity in terms of tradition, culture, professional interests, field of activity and others, with special reference to major professional issues.
The following Organizational Sections have been estabilished so far:
The Section "Istituti Zooprofilattici Italiani" (gathering Public Laboratories working in the field of health and hygienics of animals and related food products)
The Section "Services for the Automotive Sector" (gathering service companies providing inspection and calibration services of the equipment and instruments used in the automotive service industry - mainly repair workshops and car control centres)
Sections and Committees have their own Steering Bodies and are properly represented in the Executive Council of the Association.
ALPI can be joined by every Organization providing test, calibration, certification and inspection services, complying with the requisites established by its Statute, such as technical, commercial and administrative autonomy, consolidated experience, high professional competence and trustability and compliance of the applicable Quality Standards (EN 45000 series and similar).
At present ALPI gathers 94 members covering all major disciplinary areas and technological fields (energy, electrotechnics and electronics, telecommunications and information technologies, mechanics and materials, metallurgy, automotive industry, building and construction, geology and geotechnics, chemistry, biology, food industry, textiles, footwear, ecology and environment, health and hygienics, etc.), with some 10000 employees and an overall turnover of more than Lit. 1500 billions.
ALPI is working towards two major strategic goals:
To foster the development and diffusion of the culture and practice of the Assessment of Conformity to Technical Norms and Regulations ("Certified" quality) as well as of the "Total Quality Management" ("Strategic" quality), so as to contribute to the growth of the competitiveness of the economical system and to the improvement of the welfare of the civil society and promoting the progress of the profession of its Members working in the fields of testing, certification, inspections, technical assistance, etc.
To contribute to the development of applied research activities, performed by independent Laboratories and Centres, as a fundamental link between basic research and industrial applications, fostering in this way the diffusion of technological innovations in the small and medium industry and promoting the function of the Members working in this field.
On the operational side, the above strategies are reflected in a number of both institutional and service activities, addressed to the Members as well as to all the institutional, cultural, economical and social Parties who concur to the pursuance of the above objectives.
The main activities of the Association are briefly reviewed in the following:
CULTURE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The Association performs an intense cultural and educational action through the publication of technical documents (Conference Proceedings, Laboratory Directories, specialized Monographies) and holding of Seminars, Workshops and Training Courses.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Under this item the Association provides the following services:
Technical Assistance for the develpoment of Laboratory facilities and the improvement of test and measuring techniques (benchmarking);
Assistance for the realization and implementation of quality management systems and related official recognition (Accreditation, Certification); Assistance for Safety on the working place and environmental management;
Guidance to product certification.
ALPI has been acknowledged by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Marine as the official body for the inspection of measuring equipment of automotive repair shops and performs this function throug hits competent Members.
MARKETING SUPPORT
It includes:
Promotion of the image of the represented Operators through the various communication media;
Advertising of the services of the Members via the diffusion of their competences (ALPI Directory) and collection and proper addressing of the demands from the market;
Fostering of technical and commercial cooperation among the Members;
Monitoring of prices and fares; protection of the market from unethical commercial behaviour and unfair competition forms.
SUPPORT IN THE FIELD OF STANDARDS
The Association takes part in the national and international standardization activities (with particular reference to the horizontal Conformity Assessment Standards) and provides documentation and consultation services.
OTHER SUPPORTS
These are mainly addressed to the Members and include: assistance for access to national and international research funds and other forms of economical support; legal, fiscal, assurance and syndicate assistance.
REPRESENTATION FUNCTIONS
The Association represents the Operators of research, testing and certification vis-a-vis the competent national and international Bodies and Institutions.
Among others, ALPI is Member of the Italian Confederation of Industrialists, it is represented in the Board of Directors of the Italian Accreditation Bodies (SINAL and SINCERT), it is acting as the Italian Section of EUROLAB (European Federation of Laboratory Associations) providing a substantial contribution to the activities of this Body, it takes part in the international Accreditation Organizations (EA and IAF) and in many other national, regional and international Societies and Fora dealing with research, quality, testing and certification.
PUBLICATIONS (available on request)
Proceedings of the organized Conferences (5 Volumes)
Directory of ALPI Members
Specialized Monographies
Lecture notes of Seminars and Training Courses
Milan, November 2000
L. Thione - President
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