IMPCAS / CDI Achtergronden

The chemical industry in Europe uses mainly the logistical services of third parties for handling, storage and transport of raw materials and end products. The chemical companies want to assure themselves that these tasks are carried out in a safe and qualitatively high-minded manner.  Thus to ensure the protection of their employees, the outside world and the environment. In the past individual chemical companies carried out periodic audits at their suppliers of logistical services. This has led to a fragmented treatment with a multiple of questionnaires. This appeared expensive and inefficient both for the chemical and for the transport industry.

Also in the deep sea transport the attention for raising the safety at  transport, the handling and storage of chemical substances has risen. The Chemical Distribution Institute in association with the American Chemistry Council have deveopled a programme that is similar to the SQAS programme. The IMPCAS (international Navy Packed cargo audits Scheme; formerly CDI-MPC) evaluates the management systems with respect to Responsible Care, quality, safety, security and environment of the suppliers of logistical services in an uniform manner by means of a standardized questionnaire.  The IMPCAS reports help the chemical companies in their choice of logistical services as well as at the drawing up of improvement programmes.  The IMPCAS assessments do not result in a certificate, but a detailed objective factual report. The research replaces the multiple inspections to which a supplier of logistic services have been exposed traditionally, without giving up the dialog between both parties however. Although IMPCAS on themselves the security and quality do not insure of the provided service, the system reaches a mechanism to evaluate ongoing improvement. 

The system provides useful feedback to the service provider concerning the observed strong and defects during the research. Additional the individual chemical company can, after evaluation of the research results which by means of the database of the CDI accessible are for user to group members, customer-oriented feedback provide to lay and/or reinforce thereby the foundation of a durable cooperation which advantage produces for both parties.

The assessment takes place once every 3 years. The time spending is minimum 2 days for going through the questionnaire. The report is placed in the database of the CDI and is accessible for the assessed company as well as the IMPCAS user group members. Participating companies receive a declaration of participation to the IMPCAS scheme.

At present L.O.A.C. can assess the following IMPCAS schemes:

• IMPCAS tank container operator
• MPCAS Ship agent