RSI unveils product quality certification standard for tank car suppliers

The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) today released the RSI-100 Product Quality Certification Standard, a new recommended practice that will enable railway parts suppliers to produce tank car components in conformance with Association of American Railroads (AAR)-approved specifications and applicable federal regulations.

The RSI-100 Standard outlines clear roles and responsibilities between purchasers and suppliers, defines quality criteria, identifies objective evidence to establish compliance, and serves as a tool for certified tank car facilities to engage with non-certified facilities, RSI officials said in a press release.

“This standard will provide tank car manufacturers and repair facilities with confidence that products acquired for installation on tank cars conform to the specified quality requirement,” said John Byrne, vice chairman of the RSI Committee on Tank Cars, which developed the standard.

RSI consulted with the Federal Railroad Administration and the AAR in developing and evaluating this program. The standard has been made available to the industry at no cost. 

Going forward, the RSI Quality Assurance Committee will review applicable federal requirements and AAR standards on an ongoing basis to ensure that RSI-100 remains a best recommended practice for suppliers of tank car components and issue any necessary revisions accordingly.