First Irish Organisations Achieve Certification to New International Business Standards
- Repak and Imperial Tobacco will today become the first Irish companies to achieve certification to the new revised standards in Quality Management (ISO:9001)and Environmental Management (ISO:14001) respectively at a ceremony in NSAI offices in Dublin
- The firms are among 38 organisations achieving certificates to world class standards today in areas such as Food Management Systems, Excellence Through People and Health and Safety Management Systems
- NSAI has issued over 5,550 certificates to organisations worldwide
Tuesday, 17th November 2015: 38 organisations from the private, public and SME sectors gathered at NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) offices in Dublin today for a special ceremony marking their achievement in becoming certified to world class standards.
Two organisations, Repak and Imperial Tobacco, became the first companies in Ireland to achieve certification in the two new international business standards, Quality Management (ISO 9001) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001).
These standards were revised and launched in September this year to reflect the increasingly globalised business environment organisations now operate within and changing customer expectations due to advances in technology. International standards, Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001) and are used by almost 1.5 million companies worldwide.
“We are delighted that Repak has been the first company in Ireland to receive the new ISO 9001:2015 Certification. This is a major milestone for the organisation and builds upon our success in helping Ireland become one of the top packaging recycling countries in Europe over the past 18 years,” said Seamus Clancy, CEO of Repak.
“We have strived to constantly improve our quality management systems and streamline a complex ecosystem within the recycling industry. This achievement is in no small part due to the consistent commitment of our 2,120 members. This is a crucial endorsement of Repak and underscores how we work to the highest possible standards in promoting and driving better recycling in Ireland.”
All 38 organisations who achieved certification today were independently audited by NSAI inspectors in order to ensure they complied with the standards. They join an elite group of over 3,000 organisations who are currently NSAI certified in a variety of areas such as Food Management Systems, Excellence Through People Development and Health and Safety Management Systems.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Dublin this morning, NSAI Chairman Julie O’Neill highlighted the real business value of investing in standards.
“The challenges faced by Irish businesses today are very different from a few decades ago. Technology is driving increased expectations from customers and businesses. More and more tender requirements seek certification to internationally recognised standards, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Certification to these standards can also be a deal breaker when it comes to securing export opportunities,” Ms O’Neill said.
A study carried out by Behaviour and Attitudes revealed that more than 82 per cent of Managing Directors in Ireland believe that multinationals are more likely to do business with an Irish company that adheres to internationally recognised standards. 73 per cent said they believed that companies with standards have better reputations, while 62 per cent said compliance with standards is now a prerequisite in tender competitions.
Clare County Council today became the first local authority in Ireland to achieve certification to the new Excellence Through People standard. This standard provides a business improvement model for organisations to enhance performance and realise strategies through the management and development of their people.
Commenting on its certification to this important standard, Mr. Ger Dollard, Director of Service, Clare County Council said: “Achieving this certification speaks volumes and demonstrates Clare County Council’s innovative and progressive culture. It shows by working together we can all achieve success and this collaborative effort has now resulted in this prestigious and sought-after Excellence Through People certificate.”
NSAI invites members of the business community and the general public to get involved in the development of standards by visiting Your Standards, Your Say on www.nsai.ie. All standards are also available from www.standards.ie
Pictured (l-r) were NSAI certificate recipients Aoife Lawlor, Allianz Plc, Colm Munnelly, Repak, Comdt. Mark Caulfield, Irish Air Core and Debra O'Sullivan, Berendsen Ireland. Photography by Conor McCabe.
A spokesperson from NSAI is available for interview.
To arrange please contact: NSAI Press Officer, Sinead O’Donnell: 085 131 76 77
Email: sinead.odonnell@nsai.ie
The full list of companies certified at today’s NSAI certification ceremony are:
- ABP Food Group, Cahir, Co. Tipperary
- Ailesbury Services, East Wall, Dublin
- Allianz Ireland, Dublin
- ARC Engineering and Manufacturing Services, Wexford
- Balfour Beatty CLG, Dublin
- Berendsen, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
- Carlow Concrete Tanks, Bunclody, Wexford
- Clare County Council
- Clear Channel Ireland Ltd, Clonskeagh, Dublin
- Delmec Engineering Ltd, Graiguecullen, Carlow
- D Fallon Consulting Engineers, Tuam Road, Galway
- Finnegan Steel Fabrications Ltd, Clondalkin, Dublin
- Gas Networks Ireland, Dublin and Cork
- Geodis Ireland Ltd, Mulhuddart, Dublin
- Hentech Fabrication Ltd, Enniscorthy, Wexford
- Iarnród Éireann, Laois
- Imperial Tobacco, Mullingar, Westmeath
- Irish Air Corps, Dublin
- Irish Rollforming Ltd, Cork
- LMH Engineering Ltd, Arklow, Wicklow
- Mafic Black Basalt Ireland
- M B McNamara Construction Ltd, Dublin
- McGrattan & Kenny Ltd, Dublin
- MFL Ltd, Kilcullen, Kildare
- Molloy Precast Products Ltd, Tullamore, Offaly
- Nanodiamond Products Ltd, Shannon, Clare
- Newenham Mulligan & Associates, Dublin
- Northside Homecare Services, Dublin
- OMC Technologies Ltd, Limerick
- Repak Ltd, Dublin
- Sanbra Fyffe, Dublin
- SGR Scientific Ltd, Dublin
- Shanderry Elevator & Escalator Consultants, Offaly
- Sorensen Civil Engineering Ltd, Kinsale Road, Cork
- Superior Pipeline Products Ltd, Osberstown, Naas, Kildare
- Systherm Controlled Environment Technologies Ltd, Dublin
- Thermal Insulation Distributors Ltd, Dublin
- Woodloe Steel Fabrication Ltd, Dublin
The standards awarded to companies today include:
- ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems
- OHSAS 18001 - Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems
- ETP - Excellence Through People
- ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems
- ISO 22000– Food Management Systems
- ISO 50001 – Energy Management Systems
Excellence Through People
Excellence Through People is a Human Resource National Specification. It became a full part of NSAI certification in 2012. This followed the proactive co-operation between FAS (ETP’s previous managing body), CIPD (the professional body for HR) and Engineers Ireland. The objective was to realign the standard as far as possible with international best practice. Amongst other improvements this involved moving to an annual audit as part of a three year registration cycle. The result was ETP 1000:2012 which is now more closely aligned with NSAI’s existing suite of certifications.
Organisations have responded enthusiastically to ETP. They have recognised that this voluntary certification plays a key role in promoting change management in all sectors of industry and the State and Semi-State sectors, as well as driving Ireland’s competitiveness.
