Our quality solutions for the nuclear industry: ISO 19443, barometer, audits, training...
In the nuclear industry, quality is inextricably linked to safety. The ISO 19443 standard establishes a quality management framework specific to organizations in the nuclear energy sector that provide products or services critical to nuclear safety (IPSN). AFNOR supports industry stakeholders at every stage: understanding requirements, training teams, auditing, certifying, and advancing the quality culture.
Your needs
Do you work in the nuclear sector in a role that involves quality, quality culture, and safety? We provide you with access to industry monitoring solutions, industry surveys, training, and audit recognition.
Become ISO 19443 certified
The key to proving your quality approach to your clients.
Assessing Your Company's Quality Culture
Implement our Quality Culture Barometer
Become a certified internal quality auditor
Proof that you possess expertise in quality auditing in the nuclear sector.
Training in quality and ISO 19443
A range of training courses for quality auditors and future quality auditors.
AFNOR helps you define your needs
Why implement a quality management system?
In the nuclear industry, quality is a top priority. Sacrificing quality means sacrificing safety—something unthinkable in this sector. The industry even has its own quality standard, ISO 19443, which covers the entire value chain—a prerequisite in the vast majority of requests for proposals.
For a supplier or subcontractor, a quality failure is not measured in terms of costs or delays: it calls into question safety, compliance, the client’s trust, and the very ability to participate in sensitive activities. Implementing a structured nuclear quality approach helps ensure process reliability, demonstrates your rigor, and meets the requirements of major players and clients.
Source of figures: Study on the Costs of Non-Quality, AFNOR, 2023
67 %Industrial companies measure the costs of non-quality.
90 %ISO 9001 and 14001 certified companies measure the costs of waste
40 %companies define an action plan against poor quality
80 %Some companies estimate that non-quality costs account for up to 5% of revenue
What are the three pillars of nuclear safety culture?
The quality culture in the nuclear industry is built on a strong safety culture. The IAEA's INSAG-4 Report (1991) , a leading authority on the subject, identifies three pillars:
- The first is a questioning attitude: taking nothing for granted, constantly asking oneself about possible discrepancies and their consequences.
- The second is a rigorous and cautious approach: following procedures, working methodically, and maintaining safety margins.
- The third is communication: gathering information from the field and passing it on through management—two inseparable processes.
ISO 19443 builds on these principles by incorporating them into a structured quality management system.
ISO 19443: What exactly is it about?
ISO 19443 is an international standard for the energy sector, specifically the nuclear industry. It is based on the structure of ISO 9001 (the benchmark standard for quality management) and adds requirements specific to the sector. The ISO 19443 standard is intended for organizations in the nuclear supply chain: technology suppliers, subcontractors, and service providers involved in products and services critical to nuclear safety.
Its purpose is not merely documentary. The ISO 19443 standard aims to structure quality management while strengthening the safety culture within teams, through a phased approach tailored to the criticality of the activities. It is part of the philosophy of continuous improvement and risk management that underpins all initiatives related to quality management led by AFNOR.
What are the requirements of ISO 19443?
The requirements of ISO 19443 certification are based on the core principles of ISO 9001 (management commitment, process control, document control, continuous improvement, etc.) and include additional provisions specific to the nuclear industry.
In particular, the standard emphasizes control over subcontracted activities, the prevention of counterfeiting, fraud, and tampering, as well as product traceability and compliance throughout the product lifecycle. It also introduces a tiered approach: the level of requirements applied to processes and suppliers is proportionate to the importance of the products and services for nuclear safety. This approach, combined with the harmonized structure common to ISO standards, makes it possible to focus efforts where they really matter, without unnecessarily burdening less critical activities.
AFNOR's ISO 19443 Consulting Services
AFNOR supports stakeholders in the nuclear supply chain at every stage of their process. To understand the standard and prepare for certification, a range of training courses covers the regulatory framework, the specific aspects of nuclear internal auditing, and the implementation of the ISO 19443 requirements within the quality management system.
The Culture and Quality Barometer allows for the assessment of the maturity of practices within teams, a factor that is all the more useful given that the standard evaluates staff awareness of the safety culture.
The Certification as an Internal Nuclear Safety Auditor certifies professionals responsible for conducting ISO 19443 internal audits, as required by the standard.
Finally, the ISO 19443 certification certifies that the management system meets the clients' safety requirements and enables the company to position itself in a rapidly growing market.
