NMP QMS to Undergo Surveillance and Certification Audits in 2017

Tacloban City --- The National Maritime Polytechnic Quality Management System (NMP QMS) will undergo surveillance and certificationaudits under ISO 9001:2008andISO 9001:2015, respectively, this year.

As an agency that commits to continuous enhancement of seafarers, maintaining ISO Certification of its QMS confirmsthe agency’s relevance in carrying out its mandate of upgrading the qualifications of Filipino seafarers and providing responsive maritime industry researches.

With the Surveillance Audit under ISO 9001:2008 set on25-26 May2017, the NMPremainsdedicated in the further improvement of system processes and procedures.

Internal quality audits are conducted year-round in all levels of the organization to ensure that actual processes follow the established procedures.

Challenges in the accomplishment of agency plans, programs and activities are being addressed in the quarterly management review meetings and monthly quality time meetings.

Review and revisionof quality procedures are conducted to ensure its relevance and that these are carried out in accordance with agency and GOP policies and regulations.

More importantly, to keep NMP abreast with the evolving quality standards and other industry requirements, preparations are underway towards the transition of its existing standardtoISO 9001:2015.

Accordingly, revisions on the Quality Policy Manual adopting the new standard was approved by the NMP Board of Trustees during its meeting on 27 March 2017 held at the Office of the Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment, Intramuros, Manila.

Review and modifications on the Quality Proceduresare being undertaken that involve its re-alignment to the requirements of the 2015 standard, conduct of internal quality audits, submission of documents for Stage 1 Audit by the Certifying Body, and Stage 2 Audit that entails on-site visit by the Certifying Body within the last quarter of the year.

The changes introduced in the 2015 revision of the standard are intended to ensure that organizations continue to adapt to the changing environments in which they operate. Some of the key updates in ISO 9001:2015 include the introduction of new terminology, restructuring some of the information, an emphasis on risk-based thinking to enhance the application of the process approach, improved applicability for services, and increased leadership requirements. A three-year transition period (September 2015-September 2018) is given to organizations certified under the 2008 version to move to the new edition of the standard. (PR)