Acting Head of the National Standards Centre Majid Ali (L) exchanging signed documents with manager of SEAD Services, Maidin Tinggal, for the development of ISO 9001:2008 and quality management system at the National Standards Centre in Sinaut, Tutong

Tuesday 9 March 2010, Tutong – The National Standards Centre at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources aims to be the first government agency to develop and achieve ISO 9001:2008 accreditation following a contract signing with a local standard and quality management specialist consultant company.

The centre will be receiving consultancy services for the next six months from SEAD Services, said its Acting Head Majid Ali in a press conference after the signing ceremony at the centre in Tutong.

"Basically, the centre will implement the consultancy services into the management system," he said.

He explained that after receiving the consultation from SEAD and a third party which has yet to be confirmed, they would reassess the centre's ISO standards.

"Hopefully, by end of this year or early next year, we will get the ISO certification, also being the first (organisation) in the government to get the accreditation," he said.

Majid also hopes local small and medium entreprises (SMEs) would be informed of the available services at the centre, including certification, consultation, factory visits, standards awareness programme, library, quality management, as well as testing and metrology collaboration lab services.

"By knowing our services, SMEs can benefit and learn the necessary information needed to achieve the standards that we are aiming for," he explained.

He added that most SMEs still lack the knowledge on the services at the centre.

However, he did not further elaborate on the details and requirements to achieve the ISO 9001:2008 accreditation.

The centre also calls for full support and cooperation from relevant government agencies to facilitate the operations of the National Standards Council, an accreditation body that guides the centre to achieve internationally recognised standards.

On its website, the International Organisation for Standardisation stated that the ISO 9001:2008 specifies requirements for a quality management system, where an organisation needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

It also aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory.

"All requirements of ISO 9001:2008 are generic and are intended to be applicable to all organisations, regardless of the type, size and products provided," information on the website stated.

Majid Ali signed the contract on behalf of the National Standards Centre, while Manager Maidin Tinggal represented SEAD Services.The centre was established in May 1996, when the Resource Centre was named as the Resource and Standard Centre.

The centre aims to encourage local entrepreneurs to venture into the international market through regionally and internationally recognised standards and help local products meet the required market standards. ~ Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Related News : National Standard Centre Moves Step Closer To Acquiring ISO 9001:2008  | Accreditation Body Taking Shape In Brunei

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MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND PRIMARY RESOURCES

Sources
Writer: Fitri Shahminan
Picture: BT/Hj Mohd Ali
Website: http://www.bt.com.bn

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The information presented and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources