INDIAN ORDINANCE FACTORIES SERVICE (IOFS)

The Indian Ordinance Factories Services (IOFS) was formed in 1954 with the cadre controlling authority of Ministry of Defence – Department of defence Production and Supplies with a cadre size of 1760 posts. The source of recruitment (in percentage) was through direct recruitment 60%; by promotion 40% and no lateral entries.

Service hierarchy:

Grade	Pay scales	Designations in field	Designations in headquarters	Any other Designation
Junior time scale	8000-275-13500	Asstt. Works manager	Asstt. Director	NIL
Senior time scale	10000-325-15200	Deputy director	Deputy director	NIL
Junior administrative grade	12000-375-16500	Deputy general manager	Joint director	NIL
Selection grade	14300-400-18300	Joint general manager	Director	NIL
Senior administrative grade	18400-500-22400	Addl. GM / General Manager	Deputy director general	Regional director, Addl. Principal Director, Regional Controller of safety
Higher administrative grade	22400-525-24000	Sr. General Manager	Sr. DDG	Principal director
	24050-650-26000	NIL	Addl. Director general & Member of Board
	26000 (fixed)	NIL	DGOF & Chairman of Board

Brief write up on the service outlining the main functions etc. including areas where interaction and coordination with other services is essential:
The IOFS is a multi-disciplinary composite cadre comprising of engineers, metallurgists, chemists, textile and leather and technologists and administrative office technical posts, which comprise about 87% of the total cadre, are filled through the Engineering Services examination and in rare cases selection through interview by UPSC. Posts in the administrative stream are filled through the civil services examination held by UPSC. IOFS officers are group A Defence civilian officers under the Ministry of Defence. They are responsible for the management of ordinance factories, which provide the sinews of self-reliant, indigenous, defence production capabilities of the nation.

The Ordinance Factory Organisation functions as departmental undertaking under the Department of Defence Production and Supplies, and very aptly named as the fourth arm of the defence for its contribution to defence capabilities of the country. Ordinance factories primarily service as a production base for the Indian Armed forces for the supply of critical lethal as well as non-lethal stores. They are also required to provide the defence services with high-level services in regard to equipment, spares, and technical services. Ordinance factories also design and develop new products and processes, make maximum use of indigenous R&D capabilities both within and outside. For achieving optimal utilization of the available capabilities and manpower, these factories are also diversifying into the civil trade and export sector. The main functions performed by IOFS Officers include product development, project management, materials management, production planning and control, quality control, supplies management, industrial safety, labour welfare, personnel management, industrial relations, management of residential estates etc. In discharging these functions, officers of the IOFS interact extensively with R&D organisations such as the Defence Research & Development Organisation, DGQA, MES, IITs, National Laboratories, Ministry of Home, Ministry of Labour and other ministries. Besides, in order to meet the day to day operational requirements of the organisation, fulfil various statutory obligations, and ensure the welfare of the workforce employed in the ordinance factories, these officers also interact with the officers of the IAS, the IPS, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Indian Customs and Central Excise, Indian Defence Accounts Service, Indian Revenue Service, Indian Railway Traffic Service etc.