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The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) presented the Award on behalf of SGS America, the body who actually carried out the certification audit at the Corporation.
SGS America is a branch of SGS (formerly Société Générale de Surveillance) which is headquartered in Switzerland, and inspects and certifies companies around the world to various standards.
The Standard that Guyana National Shipping Corporation was certified to was the ISO 9001-2008 Total Quality Management Standard.
The core services offered by SGS include the inspection and verification of the quantity, weight and quality of traded goods, the testing of product quality and performance against various health, safety and regulatory standards, and to make sure those products, systems or services meet the requirements of standards set by governments, standardization bodies or by SGS customers.
Chairing the proceedings was the Corporation’s Mr. Winston Beckles. Other speakers included: Managing Director, Mr. Astwood, Company Chairman Mr. Rajendra Singh, and Project Manager/ ISO Co-ordinator, Mr. Eon Oudkerk.
Mr. Oudkerk, who was credited as the lead figure playing a pivotal role in moving the Corporation towards this noble achievement, gave an overview of the Corporation’s involvement, over the years, in following the ISO 9001-2008 Quality Standards, leading to the certification of the three departments.
He noted that even before being certified, the Corporation, based on training received as they sought to get themselves in order, was already following and upholding aspects of Quality Management System, and boasted a high level of performance as well.
And just how will the ISO Certification benefit employees and customers of the corporation and customers? Here’s what Project Manager/ISO Coordinator Eon Oudkerk had to say: “By demonstrating that we live up to certain high quality standards; by showing that we are continually try to improve on those standards, and by showing most of all, that we are now 110% customer-oriented.”
This, he said, is crucial, since the 9001-2008 Standard deals a lot with customers. “So we listen to the customer and we try to deliver their wants and needs,” he emphasized.
Noting that the GNSC has always been a customer-oriented company, Oudkerk added that the principles of the ISO 9001-2008 Standard means that customers will benefit even more in personalized attention, bringing ultimate satisfaction in the involvement of the services that corporation provides.
Essentially, he said, the GNSC is aware it cannot relax on the standards by which it was certified, since there will be a surveillance project by SGS, who will visit to observe and determine whether the company is following the same rules and regulations noted prior to certification.
In addition, certification awarded lasts for a period of three years, after which the holder must be re-certified. With this in mind, the Project Manager / ISO Co-ordinator assured that GNSC will not be resting on its laurels, but would be looking to ensure that all other departments are certified, in order to be able to say that the company is fully certified.
He noted that the ISO standard places a high premium on continual improvement, and said that this is what the Corporation is planning to do. It will work towards having other departments certified to the ISO 9001-2008 Standard, and being involved in other ISO Standards, such as the Environmental and Risk Management Standards.
Oudkerk expressed confidence that with the involvement of a total Quality Control Management System, backed by the ISO Standard, GNSC’s vision of providing a world class service to its customers is on the horizon.
He also expressed optimism that, within a short period of time, the GNSC will be the number one shipping company through offering a service that is second to none, matched by the ISO Standard.
Oudkerk thanked Managing Director Mr. Andrew Astwood for the role he played as ISO Management representative, and the unstinted support from other members of the ISO management team, and all others who worked towards helping to realize this great achievement.
Other speakers included GNSC’s Managing Director A. Astwood, and Chairman Mr. Rajendra Singh. Closing remarks were delivered by Mr. D. Sansculotte, Personnel and Industrial Relations Officer. Also delivering remarks was the GNBS representative, Mrs. Candelle Walcott-Bostwick, who congratulated the GNSC for its diligent work towards being awarded the ISO 9001-2008 certificate.
