Sanctity of ISO systems

I know about a company in India which systematically flouts all rules and regulations, do not treat effluents in the night and let them out without treatment. It was caught by local pollution control board and company was closed at least 2-3 times in the last 2 years, but they come out with money power. The fun is that company is both 9001 and 14001 certified for the last 5 years or so.

Recently when the 14001 surveillance audit was going on there was a fire in the factory as there was a leak from one of the high pressure reactors. I heard that only minor NCs were raised during audit. Under these circumstances what can one say about the systems? Or one has to grill the cerifying body?(There may be many more companies like this). Sometimes one wonders whether systems are for preaching only.

Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

I know about a company in India which systematically flouts all rules and regulations, do not treat effluents in the night and let them out without treatment. It was caught by local pollution control board and company was closed at least 2-3 times in the last 2 years, but they come out with money power. The fun is that company is both 9001 and 14001 certified for the last 5 years or so.

Recently when the 14001 surveillance audit was going on there was a fire in the factory as there was a leak from one of the high pressure reactors. I heard that only minor NCs were raised during audit. Under these circumstances what can one say about the systems? Or one has to grill the cerifying body?(There may be many more companies like this). Sometimes one wonders whether systems are for preaching only.

Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Sounds like a great company.

This kind of story is not unheard of and many companies with ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 Certification (Accredited or Unaccredited) are very poor. As a customer I would always visit key suppliers, not always for a full blown audit, but just to reassure myself they were not cowboys. It's quite easy to establish a companies level of committment to quality etc. without opening a procedures manual or checking a document.

Regards,
Simon

Dear Simon,

As you rightly put it I have found experienced that customer audit can be more demanding than audit by certification bodies as every customer his own criteria of looking at things and one cannot antoganize the customer as 'customer is the king'.

Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Just another query which came to my mind? Has any certification body withdrawn any company's certification anywhere in the world(let it be 9001,14001 or 22000)? Any idea?

Best regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Just another query which came to my mind? Has any certification body withdrawn any company's certification anywhere in the world(let it be 9001,14001 or 22000)? Any idea?

Best regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

I can say categorically yes, but I guess not so many. Come on Certification Body Reps, here is your chance to show your sanctity. Tell us how many - how often?

Regards,
Simon

Dear Simon,

sanctity

noun

1. The quality of being holy or sacred: blessedness, holiness, sacredness, sacrosanctity. See religion.
2. The quality or condition of being safe from assault, trespass, or violation: inviolability, sacredness, sacrosanctity.

The offer of the day ?

Rgds / Charles.C

Dear Simon,

sanctity

noun

1. The quality of being holy or sacred: blessedness, holiness, sacredness, sacrosanctity. See religion.
2. The quality or condition of being safe from assault, trespass, or violation: inviolability, sacredness, sacrosanctity.

The offer of the day ?

Rgds / Charles.C

A big word to live up to; maybe it is not possible?

Simon

Just another query which came to my mind? Has any certification body withdrawn any company's certification anywhere in the world(let it be 9001,14001 or 22000)? Any idea?

Best regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

yes! I heard some cases in LRQA

Also during take over audits.



Tell us about the certification body of that company.