The need to implement Quality Management System Standard by various companies and organisations is increasingly becoming crucial to success in the competitive business environment and Nigerian companies need to be on top of it. This was the view of the Executive Director of the popular Lagos-based international engineering company, Dorman Long, Engr. Akeem Adetunji.
While making a presentation as the Guest Speaker at an event recently, Adetunji explains that continual improvement in Quality Management System requires core aspects such as the need to measure, control, manage, and improve in order to sustain growth. According to him, in running a result-oriented company effectively, “if you cannot measure it, you cannot control it, if you cannot control it, you cannot manage it, and if you cannot manage it you cannot improve it.” This he said is crucial as improvement is a watchword in the operation of any business organization if it must meet the expectations of customers and remain competitive.
Using as backdrop the ISO 9001: 2015 quality management system standard, Adetunji while addressing the joint general meeting of the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), notes that the ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management. It helps organisations of all sizes and sectors “improve their performances, meet customer expectations and demonstrate the commitment to quality.”
In his presentation titled, Industrial Application Of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Standard For Continual Improvement And Sustainable Development, Adetunji who has many years of practical experience in executing world-class engineering projects under Dorman Long notes that “One of the goals of every company is to create a bigger profit, avoid losses and financial mismanagement.” Therefore, ISO 9001 according to him “is a tool that helps companies to enhance their image and expand their markets by being qualified to apply for tenders and meet customer and legal requirements.” For this reason and many more, companies worldwide are deciding to abide by the ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System Standard. He called on companies in Nigeria not to be left out.
As he further explains, the primary reasons for ISO 9001:2015 QMS model implementation are to: Improve image and credibility by attaining certification to ISO 9001; mprove customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements; integrate processes for better alignment; improve decisions that are based on data from the quality management System, while the secondary reasons are to create a culture of continual improvement of the processes, as well as spur employee engagement towards process improvement. The key principles of the model are customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making, and relationship management. Basically, ISO philosophical base is “Say what you do, write it down, do it right the first time, check it, improve on it.”
Highlight of the event was the presentation of an appreciation plaque to the Guest Speaker by the Chairman of the Ibadan Chapter of NimechE, Engr. Wole Ayanrinde. Speaking on behalf of Engr. Ibraheem Folarin Bello, FNSE, Chairman, NSE Ibadan Branch, Ayanrinde thanked the Guest Speaker for his educative and informative topic.
