Through compliance with the ISO 9001:1994 standard, prevention and systematization were achieved. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Marine Operations Department and the Training and Development Division of the Human Resources Department are now striving to upgrade to the new ISO 9001:2000 world quality standard.
As of October 2002, more than 5,000 ACP employees began the process to obtain certification of the new standard by the end of 2003.
The Marine Operations Department is in charge of the coordination of all maritime traffic through the Canal and the terminal ports of Balboa and Cristobal; the operation and maintenance of the three sets of locks and related facilities; the operation and maintenance of the launch and tugboat fleets; the administration of linehandler services, admeasurement and pilotage, and the Board of Local Inspectors; emergency response; inventory and warehouse administration; and the operation and maintenance of the ACP vehicle fleet.
The continuously changing and competitive business world demands the undertaking of a new effort. According to engineer José Reyes, Manager of the Programs and Investments Unit, the services provided to Canal customers will improve significantly with the adoption of the new version of the standard.
According to Reyes, the ISO 9001:2000 standard emphasizes the importance for the organization to identify, execute, take the necessary steps, and continually improve the effectiveness of the processes -- the foundation of the quality management system.
In consequence, the daily performance of the Marine Operations Department and the Human Resources Department Training and Development Division will be oriented towards enforcing compliance with the eight ISO 9001:2000 principles.
- Focus on customers: Understand present and future customer needs, meet customer requirements, and exceed customer expectations.
- Leadership: Focus all efforts to establish a unity of purpose and create an environment that encourages people to achieve the organization's objectives.
- Personnel participation: Encourage the involvement of people, the organization's most important resource.
- Process approach: Use efficient processes to obtain more efficient an effective results.
- Focus on a systems approach: Identify, understand, and take the necessary steps to use a systems approach to manage interrelated processes. This will improve the organization's effectiveness and efficiency.
- Continual improvement: A permanent commitment of the organization.
- Decisions based on facts: Base decisions on the analysis of factual information and data.
- Mutually beneficial relationship with suppliers: Relations with suppliers and clients are interdependent. A mutually beneficial relationship increases the capacity of both parties to create value.
The focus of the 2000 version incorporates decision-making based on facts that take into account all data obtain from measuring the quality management system. Management will ensure the effective and efficient measurement, collection, and validation of data to ensure the organization's performance and the satisfaction of all parties.
The origin of the ISO 9000 standards dates back to the times when armies required military equipment of guaranteed quality. This led, several decades ago, to the introduction of a series of design and manufacture control standards, together with quality procedures, to ensure that manufacturers supplied equipment conforming to the requested specifications.
