Updated: 27-Dec-2010
After completing the certification audit, Det Norske Veritas (DNV), an international company, awarded ISO 9001 international certification to two important branches of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), during a special ceremony held at Miraflores Locks.
This important international certification recognizes the quality of services the Canal provides to its customers and users, while reaffirming the organization's commitment to continue operating to satisfy the needs and expectations of its clients. With this certification, ACP commits to providing expeditious, safe, reliable, and competitive transit.
The certification included the former Maritime Operations Department, cornerstone of the Panama Canal operations, and the former Training and Development Division under the Human Resources Department, responsible for the preparation and training of personnel that operates and maintains the waterway. These two offices have almost 5,200 employees, nearly 60 per cent of the Panama Canal workforce.
Efforts to obtain ISO 9001 certification began in 1999, with the training of those employees who would participate in the development and implementation of the quality system. The process included, following ISO requirements, documenting the system, developing the quality manual, writing hundreds of procedures, work instructions, forms, records, and reports; and orienting and training of all employees involved with the certification process. In order to accomplish this gigantic project, the ACP also hired the consulting services of STAT-A-MATRIX (SAM Group), a company with wide experience in ISO certification, to guide it regarding the different requirements of the ISO standard. The certification audit by DNV took place from March 26 to 30, 2001.
The Panama Canal is the largest ISO-certified geographical area, in addition to being the only "wonder of the world" that has undertaken this process, according to Alan Marash, Stat-A-Matrix CEO.
This certification allowed ACP to provide more confidence to its customers, by having well-defined and well-documented processes to plan and control the quality of services it renders, which makes the Panama Canal a world-class corporation. It also promoted better communication with customers, regarding possible deterioration in quality services and focused on resource utilization with the ensuing increase of efficiency. This facilitated complying with the constitutional mandate of profitability and contributed to the development and welfare of our country.
ISO 9000 contains a series of voluntary international standards that have served as a method to establish and maintain a quality management system for organizations involved in the manufacture of products and service providers. ACP will use ISO 9001 Standard that demands the revision and continuous improvement of all the procedures used.
