In addition to developing world-class intellectual properties (IPs) and transferring them to customers, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) puts much emphasis on ensuring the quality of its research initiatives and management processes.
R&D Quality Assurance
All R&D projects are continuously monitored by the Technology Committee to evaluate effectiveness of customer engagement. Half-yearly progress reports are submitted to the Innovation and Technology Commission to examine the project’s progress against its stated milestones. Projects are also subject to quarterly reviews by the Technology Committee of the Board and each ongoing project is monitored monthly by the Chief Technology Officer.
Management Quality Assurance
Quality is paramount for all ASTRI’s research deliverables, and this is supported by our organisation-wide adoption of the ISO 9001 Quality Management standard. The ISO 9001 standard helps ASTRI to deliver consistently high-quality products and services that meet the expectations and enhance the satisfaction of our clients and partners. Every year, an international certification body conducted an audit to ASTRI’s operations to ensure the actual practices complied with the ISO 9001 standard. ASTRI actively seeks opportunities to improve the quality of its operations through effective communication and exchanges with all its stakeholders.
To efficiently exercise good corporate governance, an Internal Audit Department (IAD) under the Audit Committee was set up in 2003 to assist the Board by providing it with information and assurance on internal management controls.
As required by the Corporate Governance Manual, the Internal Audit Department carries out annual audits to meet coverage requirements specified by the Audit Committee in accordance with the determined priorities.
The Manual also requires the Internal Audit Department to review the internal control system and report the efficiency and effectiveness of such system to the Board via the Audit Committee. With respect to this requirement, semi-annual Internal Audit Progress Reports are presented to the Audit Committee.
The Board appointed the Head of Internal Audit as the Compliance Officer in April 2007 to assist its governance function by providing timely information to the Audit Committee on the compliance status of ASTRI regarding policy and procedures of project management, finance, human resources and administrative management.
To ensure continued compliance with the Guide to Information and Technology Support Programme (ITSP), corporate governance policy, ISO procedures and other relevant guidelines, the Compliance Officer is required to submit quarterly reports to the Audit Committee.