scope:

This document gives guidance about engineering assurance and the accreditation of suppliers providing assurance in respect of things for which LU's Chief Engineer has accountability. This includes:

- All engineering assets on LU property;

- Engineering assets provided for LU use on property owned by others;

- All engineering assets leased to LU's suppliers and that may, at any time, revert to LU control;

- The competence of persons who work on the above and;

- The processes used to control work on the above.

This document also mentions matters closely related to the above, for which others set standards, including:

- Other engineering systems and equipment that interface with items for which the Chief Engineer sets standards and;

- Railway operational practices and the competence profiles of railway operators.

This document combines the separately issued M1070 Part A, M1070 Part B, M1070 Part C and M1070 Part D, which are withdrawn on the issue of this document.

Part A gives a general introduction and background to the subject of engineering assurance, which applies to the whole of the lifecycle of equipment, processes and to Parts B, C & D.

Part B covers the engineering assurance needed when changes are made, when new or amended works, plant, equipment, hardware or software are being introduced, or new processes or different competence controls are being contemplated.

Part C covers the engineering assurance needed when no changes are being made, but routine activity is going on, typically during maintenance, the operation of processes or periodic competence testing.

Part D covers the process of accreditation to provide engineering assurance.

PURPOSE

This document is intended to help make the giving and receiving of satisfactory assurance about engineering a smooth and efficient process.

It is intended that this document shall serve the needs of the following audiences:

Suppliers - who are required to assure LU

Engineers within The Engineering Directorate - who are required both to receive engineering assurance from suppliers and assure The LU Board and external parties.

Others in LU - who may be receiving assurance about matters such as safety, railway operations or customer services and need to understand the role of engineers in the Chief Engineer's Directorate in relation to their own.

This document refers to LU's Chief Engineer as the ultimate receiver of engineering assurance, this being the case from LU's perspective. However, the concepts described are equally applicable at any point in the chain of assurance that links a front-line operative undertaking engineering work with the most senior legal regulator.