OVERVIEW

On November 8, 1979, Chairman of the State Committee for Science and Technology Tran Quynh signed Decision No. 495/QD-UB to establish the National Standards - Metrology - Quality Centre of Region II (Centre II).

On November 5, 1994, Mr. Dang Huu - Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Ministry (now the Ministry of Science and Technology) signed Decision No. 1274 / QD establishing the Quality Assurance and Testing Center 2 (QUATEST 2). QUATEST 2 is a science and technology organization which belongs to the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality under Ministry of Science and Technology performing functions in fields of supplying services for State management on Standards, Metrology and Quality control, scientific research and providing technical services for individuals, organizations’ requirements throughout the country. QUATEST 2 has implemented the Integrated Management System, which combines the internationally recognized standards for quality Management System including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, SA 8000, OHSAS 18001, ISO 50001, ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17021 and ISO/IEC 17065 to manage the activities of providing technical services.

Throughout many years of operation, with a modern equipments, experienced and professional staffs, we has affirmed QUATEST 2’s prestige and become one of the most reliable organization providing Quality, Measurement, Standards services in Vietnam, with the following fields: - Verification/calibration, repair and maintenance of measuring equipment; - Inspecting of industrial safety, machines, equipment, equipment systems and materials with strict requirements on safety; - Testing construction materials, foodstuffs, agricultural and aquatic products, petroleum products, electricity and electronics; environmental monitoring; - Certification - Inspection - State inspection of goods and services; - Certification of management systems according to international standards; training on fields of standards, measurement and quality

With the principle "Honesty - Objective - Precision - Timeliness - Continual improvement",
QUATEST 2’s service will satisfy all customers.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF QUATEST 2

1. Develop and implement long-term and annual development plans and activity programs for the Centre.

2. Propose and collaborate on developing programs, plans, schemes, projects, legal normative documents, national standards, national technical regulations, and related documents. Coordinate with units within and outside the Committee to provide services in the fields of standardization, metrology, productivity, and quality to support state management, organizations, and individuals as required and under the directives of the Committee's leadership. Provide human resources and facilities to support inspection, assessment, and evaluation of capabilities in standardization, metrology, productivity, and quality activities as required by authorized state management agencies.

3. Conduct research and apply scientific and technological advancements; develop and implement programs, schemes, projects, and procedures; and establish methods for applying standards, technical regulations, metrology, productivity, and quality for products and goods, labeling, barcoding, and conformity assessment (including certification, testing, calibration, verification, inspection, and quality assessment of products, goods, services, processes, and systems). Organize inter-laboratory comparison, proficiency testing, and metrological traceability for testing and calibration activities.

4. Conduct research, development, production, and supply of metrology standards, reference materials, certified reference materials, test samples, measuring instruments, testing equipment, metrology and testing systems, and devices supporting metrology, testing, inspection, and sampling.

5. Verify, calibrate, and test measuring instruments, measurement systems, and metrology standards to meet the requirements of state management, organizations, and individuals. Perform inspection and evaluation of measuring instruments and systems following legal regulations, as well as testing for type approval of measuring instruments.

6. Conduct testing, examination, validation testing, and quality, hygiene, safety, and energy performance assessments of products, goods, and services. Carry out surveys, monitoring, testing, and assessments of environmental impacts and conditions.

7. Perform inspection, verification, evaluation, and certification of quality, safety, and technical safety, as well as environmental compliance for products, goods, recyclable materials used as raw production materials, services, processes, construction works, and projects in accordance with applicable standards, technical regulations, authorized regulations, and the requirements of organizations, businesses, and individuals. Inspect the condition of damage or defects in materials, components, and products. Survey and evaluate technical conditions, assess technological status, and provide consulting for technical solutions and technological innovation.

8. Perform inspection, consultancy, surveying, monitoring, measurement, environmental system development and evaluation, environmental reporting, greenhouse gas inventory, sustainable development activities, and occupational environmental monitoring services by legal regulations.

9. Assess and certify management systems; certify and validate products, goods, services, processes, construction works, and best practice procedures in compliance with standards, technical regulations, and other recognized norms under legal provisions. Certify/validate greenhouse gas reports and quantify carbon footprints; validate and certify management systems, products, goods, and services, as well as other conformity assessment activities per the law.

10. Provide training and guidance on the application of management tools, management systems, and standards. Train product certification auditors, management system certification auditors, inspectors, calibration and testing specialists, sampling experts, occupational safety specialists, laboratory safety practitioners, and other training services in the fields of standardization, metrology, productivity, and quality, as required by organizations, individuals, and legal provisions.

11. Evaluate and certify individual competencies (including welders, welding inspectors, welding coordinators, and non-destructive testing technicians) in compliance with national and international standards.

12. Supply professional human resources in the fields of standardization, metrology, productivity, and quality (including lecturers, certification auditors, productivity and quality specialists, inspectors, testers, and calibration experts). Lease transportation, machinery, equipment, and individual units within operational facilities (such as auditoriums, meeting rooms, conference rooms, laboratories, and calibration laboratories) in response to the requirements of state management agencies, organizations, and individuals.

13. Conduct industrial safety inspections for machinery, equipment, systems, and materials requiring strict safety compliance. Inspect and provide technical inspection reports for machinery, equipment, systems, and materials as requested by organizations and individuals. Perform safety and technical functionality inspections for medical equipment, radiation equipment, and nuclear devices, including radiation measurement instruments, following legal regulations.

14. Provide maintenance, repair, adjustment, installation supervision, equipment supply, technology transfer, and related services. Offer consultancy on laboratory equipment investment in compliance with the law; advice on the investment, procurement, installation supervision, and implementation of laboratory measuring and testing equipment and systems.

15. Deliver services related to barcodes and participate in tasks and activities involving barcodes as assigned by the Committee. Conduct research and provide services supporting the application of tools, technologies, and technical solutions for barcodes and other product and goods identification technologies, as requested by organizations and individuals.

16. Organize proficiency testing programs and inter-laboratory comparisons to enhance the testing capacity for products, goods, and the calibration, verification, and testing capabilities of measuring instruments, measurement systems, and metrology standards.

17. Collaborate with organizations to compile, publish, distribute, and provide technical documents, national and international standards, and technical regulations. Perform information dissemination, promotion, and outreach activities related to QUATEST 2’s tasks. Publish materials on standardization, metrology, quality, productivity, and other related topics as permitted by law.

18. Supervise the construction and installation of projects and technology lines. Conduct energy audits by legal regulations. Provide consultancy for supervision and quality assessment of construction works. Certify quality conformity and the structural safety of equipment and construction projects, as mandated by law.

19. Survey, evaluate, and appraise the technology used in investment projects. Provide investment transfer, design appraisal, and incident assessment services. Perform cartographic surveying, geodetic work, and mapping for project positioning and geological surveys. Monitor deformation, subsidence, tilting, and displacement of structures in compliance with legal regulations.

20. Provide consultancy for investment project planning, construction investment, bidding, project management for construction and laboratory or metrology facilities in compliance with legal regulations.

21. Participate in bidding, sign, and execute contracts or orders for the supply of products, goods, and services. Develop joint venture and cooperation proposals in the fields of standardization, metrology, productivity, quality, testing, and technology transfer with domestic and international organizations and individuals in accordance with legal regulations to maximize resources and effectiveness.

22. Collaborate with domestic and international agencies and organizations on matters related to the Centre's activities, as stipulated by the Committee and the law. Participate in mutual recognition agreements for conformity assessment activities, metrology standard linkage, and productivity and quality enhancement with international organizations to improve technical capacity and meet national and international demands.

23. Organize and participate in the implementation of scientific and technological tasks, programs, and research projects in the fields of standardization, metrology, productivity, quality of products and goods, labeling, barcodes, conformity assessment (certification, inspection, verification, testing, product and service quality checks, process, and system evaluations), and metrology activities as assigned by competent state authorities or requested by organizations and individuals. Sign and execute economic contracts related to scientific and technological tasks, services, programs, research projects, production, and business in these fields with domestic and international organizations and individuals, as permitted by law.

24. Organize exhibitions, promotions, and advertising for products certified to meet standards, technical regulations, or national quality awards. Act as a focal point for providing such products to organizations and individuals upon request. Engage in cooperation, joint ventures, and partnerships with domestic and international organizations to deliver services, production, and business in the fields of standardization, metrology, quality, and productivity by the law.

25. Organize inbound and outbound delegations within the framework of the Centre's tasks, programs, and projects as directed by the Committee. Approve or hire foreign experts to work in Vietnam and send staff or contracted employees abroad for work, study, or assignments in compliance with the delegation of authority from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Committee, and legal regulations.

26. Invest in developing scientific and technological capabilities using the operational development fund and other lawful financial resources as permitted by law.

27. Support enterprises in trade and investment promotion. Establish teams or groups to create business networks aimed at enterprise development. Provide consultancy on applications for intellectual property protection, including trademarks, patents, and industrial designs, per legal provisions. Organize outbound and inbound delegations as part of programs or projects for exchange, learning, and cooperation under legal regulations.

28. Expand activities for certain programs and projects beyond operational development funds by borrowing or mobilizing resources from organizations and individuals through contractual agreements that define mutual rights and responsibilities under legal provisions.

29. Collaborate to provide information related to technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures to the Vietnam Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Office, ensuring compliance with the transparency obligations for technical barriers to trade under the World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) involving Vietnam.

30. Lead and collaborate with relevant units to carry out statistical data collection and reporting as per assigned functions, duties, and authority. Implement digital transformation within the scope of assigned responsibilities, as required.

31. Manage public employees, contracted employees, records, finances, assets, and documents of the Centre per delegated authority and legal regulations.

32. Approve international business trips for personnel (excluding unit leaders) under delegated authority after obtaining Committee leadership approval for team composition.

33. Sign on behalf of or under the authorization of the Acting Director General of STAMEQ to carry out assigned tasks within the Acting Director General's jurisdiction, as permitted by law.

34. Perform other tasks assigned by the Acting Director General of STAMEQ.