What are CBTFs: Cluster-Based Testing Facilities?

Let’s understand quality standards first…

Quality standards are defined as documents that give conditions, specifications, guidelines, or characteristics that can be used constantly to ensure that materials, products, operations, and services are appropriate for their purpose.

Standards give organizations participated vision, accord, procedures,and vocabulary warranted to meet the expectations of their stakeholders. Because standards immediate exact descriptions and language,they offer an objective and authoritative base for organizations and consumers around the world to communicate and conduct business.

BIS: Buereau of Indian Standards

BIS Certification enables the certification owner to offer third-party surety of quality, safety, reliability, and trustability of products to the customers and is substantially warranted for the import of items. While the certification has been voluntary, it was made compulsory by the Indian government for a number of items. A licensee holding the BIS Certification is also permitted to use the ISI mark on their goods, which signifies that the product meets the Indian norms that are set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

So, what is Cluster Based Testing Facilities as quoted BIS?

1. A cluster industrial area generally involves multiple enterprises positioned in geographical closeness and may similarly be involved in manufacturing value chain producing same or similar or complementary products linked with common infrastructure establishments.These common infrastructure establishments may also have elements of shared quality control checks, testing, etc. so as to assure conformity of the product (s) to applicable Standard (s)
2. Establishment of full or near-full test facilities as per Scheme of Inspection and Testing (SIT) for quality control purposes may pose practical problems for MSMEs in terms of original capital demand, recreating costs and resultant time taken in development of ancillary enterprises. Presence of CBTFs and their utilisation by MSME manufacturers may facilitate the ecosystem of adherence to quality assurance and easing compliance procedures towardsassuring the conformity of product (s).
3. CBTFs for their operation shall conform to the guidelines issued by the Laboratory Policy and Planning Department (LPPD) ( Document reference DOC BIS/ CBTF/ 2020, as revised from time to time)

CBTF: An alternate to in-house testing facility?

As per BIS’s protocols, CBTF can be considered as an in-house testing facility apart from the following cases:

1. Tolerances of size and geometry (e.g. dimensions, shape in the form of flatness, straightness etc.)
2. Visual examination up to 10x magnification level
3. Workmanship like absence of burrs, solder flux splatter, sharp edges etc.
4. Any requirement which necessitates quality checks during the production process

What is the role of manufacturer(s)?

If manufacturers wish to utilize CBTF as an in-house testing facility, they are required to submit undertaking as per Annexure I (download link at the end of the article) along with Form II as per:

1. Factory facility (signed by the manufacturer)
2. CBTF facility (signed by the manufacturer and CBTF management)

Along with this, manufacturers have to inform in case services laboratories different than manufacturing facility and CBTF facilities are being utilised to (Annexure-X of guidelines for grant of licence explains this)

The manufacturer shall additionally be accountable for retaining proper records in-house as per SIT and making accurate arrangement for dealing with of samples alongside with appropriate identification. The CBTF might also additionally be insisted upon to hold the manufacturer-wise information for motion of samples, test results and so on

What other information has to be maintained about the CBTF?

1. The management of the CBTF is expected to provide details about testing capability and capacity of their CBTF with respect to the guidelines issued by the Laboratory Policy and Planning Department (LPPD)
2. In case of any changes or variations in testing infrastructure, testing personnel, number of manufacturers attached to the laboratory etc, the management is required to update the documentation. The same should be always available for relevant stakeholders for monitoring and reference
3. It is also epected that the changes are maintained with date change and are verified during the subsequent factory visit. The same is handled by the concerned BO of the jurisdiction.

Where are CBTFs located?

Location	Facilities	Agency
Karnataka	EMI/EMC Lab Component Testing Lab Reliability & Environmental Testing Lab	Mysore ESDM Cluster
Maharashtra	Electronics Manufacturing Centre Electronic Design and Test Laboratory Modular Cabinet Manufacturing Centre Innovation and Training Centre	Deogiri Electronics Cluster Private Limited (DEPCL)
Maharashtra	EMI/EMC Lab Design Centre and Rapid Prototyping Test and Measurement Lab Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Line Environmental Testing and Certification Lab	MCCIA Electronic Cluster Foundation (MECF)
Haryana	Footwear Quality Testing Leather Testing Outsole Testing	Bahadurgarh Footwear Development Services
Mumbai	Toy Quality Testing	Vasai Toy CBTF

Where can I find more details about CBTF?

The above write is a short summary of the information uploaded by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). If you want to understand A to Z regarding Guidelines for utilisation of Cluster Based Test Facility (CBTF) by Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under conformity assessment Scheme – I of Schedule – II of BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, then you can click here

What is PSCA?

PLANET STANDARDS CERTIFICATION ADVISORS (PSCA) is one of the fastest growing standard certification & registration advisors, offering consultation services to organizations of all nature and size, with vide product segments. We provide one of the most comprehensive suites of consulting services, products & training in the fields of Product Certification, Registration, Homologation, etc. to the organizations across all the industry verticals for building a progressive and profitable organization by creating a sustainable competitive advantage in the market.

How can we help you?

PSCA has succesfully guided their clients with cluster based industries like footwear, toys, wiring accessories in setting up CBTFs for the mutual benefit of MSME manufacturers.

Book your consultation with industry experts of over 25 years.