Needs
Customers in construction industry are demanding suppliers’ reliable processes able to maintain established quality levels related to materials and works.
ISO 9001 was the first standard that became very popular in the world for quality management systems (QMS).
Although renowned, ISO 9001 includes guidelines that are not always well-applied and in many cases the "quality" is nothing but a series of documents that have very little impact on business results.
Quality management must be "performance oriented" and well-perceived by customers of the company. It must therefore add value and enable more effective business processeses.
An effective mplementation of the QMS, according to ISO 9001, should enable organisations to reduce quality costs, improve their effectiveness, improve internal quality control, limit customers’ claims/complaints and contribute to the overall business performance and profitability of the company.
To effectively achieve this objective, we, at ICMQ India, believe that ISO 9001 requirements must be interpreted according to a more technical and less paper-based approach. This approach should be tailored to specific manufacturing process and should focus on the functional requirements of the product as well as the relevant, applicable standards.
ICMQ India Approach
In keeping with this school of thought, ICMQ has been developing a technical oriented approach which is customized to the relevant products/processes within the construction industry. This approach, which was first put to use in the 1980s, is based on:
- Customized Application Guidelines
- Tailor-made check lists
- Using auditors with strong technical skills and experience
- A technically-oriented certification process (compliant with ISO 17021 standards)
- Accredited certificates fully recognised at the national and international level
ICMQ India aims to work according to Indian standards and to obtain Indian accreditation for each type of activity within the construction industry. Specific certification schemes, fully tailored according to Indian standards, have been developed for:
- Ready Mix concrete production and delivery
- Asphalt production and delivery
- Construction
- Engineering
Benefits
Beyond general expected QMS benefits ICMQ India's technical approach allows customers to:
- associate their company name with that of a specialised certification body in the construction industry
- follow QMS guidelines according to applicable Indian standards
- conduct more effective quality control related internal audits
- enable effective quality improvement in the technical arena
- obtain added value from the technically-oriented certification audit
Certification process
The certification process is outlined in this flowchart
- Request for quotation from customer
- ICMQ India quotation
- Offer acceptance from customer
- Order confirmation by ICMQ India (with Terms and Conditions for the certification signature)
- Preaudit (optional)
- Certification Audit (Documentation Analysis, Stage 1 and Stage 2 Audit)
- Issue of certification after successful completion of certification audit
- Surveillance audit (according to established plan)
- Renewal audit
