Outsourcing Material Testing and Analytical Laboratory Services to India

As Enterprises increase importing engineering based material goods from countries like India and China, the need for quality material testing becomes an absolute necessity. TCR Engineering Services, an ISO 17025 accredited, independant material testing laboratory presents an overview of the pros and cons of in-house material testing in America versus outsourced contract analytical and material testing services in India.

Washington D.C., February 24, 2004 -- Much of the focus and controversy in the engineering and related industries in recent months, and in fact, years, has been on outsourcing services to India. As Enterprises increase importing material goods from countries like India and China, the need for quality material testing becomes an absolute necessity.

In India, the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), provides a scheme for third-party assessment of the quality and technical competence of testing and calibration laboratories as per the ISO 17025 guidelines.

In-House Labs in America vs Outsource Labs in India

In-House labs in America offer the US-based Enterprise a direct involvement with the testing methods and procedures. A company using an in-house testing procedure is not dependent on outside sources for meeting its required turnaround deadlines. Also, knowledge of the product and the required testing procedures already exists within the company.

The outsource or independent lab overseas in India is theoretically free from influence and is able to provide unbiased results. The objectivity of independent laboratory testing procedures is monitored by and subject to a variety of outside audits and evaluations as per ISO 17025 established standards.

Since labs are a business, the profit motive dictates that independent labs remain competitive with an emphasis on innovation and efficiency. Technologies are constantly changing and independent labs are generally better able to keep up with the latest technological advances. In their third-party position, these labs add product credibility via their independent test results.

In most cases, utilizing the services of an independent lab can be highly cost-effective. It can save a company the expense of capital investment in testing equipment and the payroll and benefits expenses of hiring testing department personnel.

An important factor in deciding to test in-house in America or use an outsource testing lab in India is the cost of a given test or inspection from an independent lab and the frequency of the test versus the cost of investing in testing equipment and paying labor costs. A Micro-Hardness Test for example costs $50.00 ea. in America while the same costs less than $8.00 in India on tests performed on identical machines and with the lab adhering to ISO 17025 guidelines.

Outsourcing to India

Many US Enterprises are taking advantage of the low-cost, high quality material testing services in India. TCR Engineering Services (TCR), founded in 1973, is India's most reputed and well established material testing laboratory. TCR has an international sales office in Laurel, MD near Washington D.C., USA.

TCR's material testing laboratory, located in Mumbai, India, undertakes testing as per international standards and specifications as defined by ASTM, NACE, BS, JS, GR, IS and others. Testing at TCR is also done as per client-supplied specifications.

TCR provides material testing services to more than 1500 Companies in India and global Enterprises such as Tyco Sanmar, Fisher Xomox, Unilever, Fisher Rosemount India, Bechtel International, Toyo Engineering, Tecknip Italy, SGS Ltd., Kirby Building Construction Co. Mistsubishi, Samsung, and Hyndai.

Many global Enterprises source engineering goods from India including castings & forgings, sheet metal, bars, pipes, cast iron, stainless steel sheets, nuts, bolts, engineering goods, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, non-metallic materials (such as polymers, ceramics, glass), machined parts, and tool components.

Virendra Bafna, Managing Director of TCR says, "TCR's Laboratory, with proximity to a suppliers / manufacturer's location in India or China coupled with our state-of-the art testing facilities and inspection services allows global enterprises to be assured of the quality of materials."

The core services TCR provides include Mechanical Testing, Chemical Analysis, Positive Material Identification (PMI), Non Destructive Testing, Metallography, Corrosion Testing, Failure Analysis, Raw Material Inspection, Metallurgical Product evaluation, Engineering Research and Consultancy.

TCR is located on the web at http://www.tcreng.com

For futher questions regarding this press release, please contact pr@tcreng.com