Interlink Vietnam completes ACRS certification consultancy project for a major steel manufacturer in Vietnam.
Interlink Vietnam has recently completed an ACRS certification consultancy project for a major steel manufacturing enterprise in Vietnam, assisting the company in preparing for and meeting requirements regarding standards, quality systems, factory assessments, testing, and product traceability.
What is ACRS?
The scope of standards may encompass various technical specifications, such as:
AS/NZS 4671 for reinforcing steel
AS/NZS 4672 for prestressing steel
AS/NZS 3679.1 for hot-rolled structural steel sections and bars
AS/NZS 3678 for hot-rolled steel plates, along with other relevant standards and technical requirements.
ACRS certification goes beyond mere product testing
A notable aspect of the ACRS certification process is that the assessment scope covers the product itself, the manufacturing process, the quality management system, and traceability capabilities.
• Product Certification — for manufacturers and processors
• Traceability Certification — extended to traders, distributors, and accessory suppliers
• Quality Management (ISO 9001) Certification
• Sustainable Constructional Steel (SCS) — certification for sustainably produced steel
For a steel manufacturing enterprise, the assessment process may include:
– Identifying and controlling products within the certification scope;
– Determining applicable standards and technical requirements;
– Assessing the quality management system; – Evaluating factory production processes;
– Controlling incoming raw materials;
– Sampling and testing;
– Managing batch/heat production records;
– Ensuring material and product traceability;
– Managing Mill Test Certificates (MTCs);
– Overseeing testing activities and laboratory operations;
– Handling non-conformities and implementing corrective actions.
Therefore, enterprises wishing to implement ACRS must not only prepare product documentation but also demonstrate a consistent capacity for quality control throughout the production process.
What are the steps in the ACRS certification consultancy process?
The actual process may vary depending on the product, scope, and applicable scheme. However, Interlink Vietnam conducts the consultancy process according to a comprehensive roadmap:
How is ACRS certification maintained?
A key distinction is that the process does not end simply upon receipt of the certificate.
Following certification, enterprises must continue to carry out maintenance activities, such as:
Quarterly Reporting → Surveillance → Change Management → Renewal
Enterprises are required to submit quarterly reports and may undergo annual surveillance audits. ACRS also reserves the right to conduct additional assessments as circumstances warrant.
Furthermore, any changes regarding the legal entity, key personnel, processes or equipment, production sites, certification scope, or management systems must be controlled and reported as required.
Consequently, enterprises should view ACRS as an ongoing process of management and compliance maintenance—where annual surveillance audits are mandatory—rather than merely a one-time certification event.
Interlink Vietnam Partners with Steel Manufacturers
Given the specific nature of the steel industry, the certification process requires the coordination of multiple elements: technical standards, products, manufacturing processes, quality management systems, laboratories, test data, and traceability.
The successful completion of an ACRS consultancy project for a major steel manufacturer in Vietnam demonstrates Interlink Vietnam’s capability to assist enterprises in meeting technical, testing, assessment, and product certification requirements.
Interlink Vietnam focuses not merely on finalizing documentation but on ensuring enterprises fully understand requirements, accurately define their scope, and are thoroughly prepared—from the pre-assessment stage through to the certification maintenance phase.
For manufacturers of concrete reinforcing steel, structural steel, steel plates, steel sections, prestressed steel, or other steel products within the applicable scope, accurately identifying the relevant standards, scope, and assessment requirements from the outset is a crucial step toward proactively achieving certification.
Interlink Vietnam is ready to partner with enterprises throughout the processes of consultancy, documentation preparation, conformity assessment, and ACRS certification implementation.
