TACLOBAN CITY—The National Maritime Polytechnic’s Quality Management System (NMP-QMS) maintained its ISO 9001:2008 certification after passing the surveillance audit conducted by the Anglo Japanese American (AJA) Registrars Limited.
The audit was done at its main campus in Tacloban City and extension office in Makati City on May 24 and 25.
Olivia Eco and Capt. Nicanor Altares, AJA auditors, reviewed the agency’s quality procedures, quality manuals and other systems documentation as against the standards.
The areas that were examined include service realization, provision of resources, competence of trainers, systems compliance with regulatory requirements, enrolment and other customer-related activities, customer satisfaction and communication, control of trainees’ records, responses to complaints, personnel training, recruitment process, purchasing, management responsibility and internal-audit activities.
NMP’s Maria Sandra Gallardo, head of Quality Management Section, and Capt. Emmanuel Jesus Laguitan, head of Maritime Training and Assessment Division, were present during the conduct of the audit.
In the exit meeting, Eco, the audit team leader, relayed her appreciation on the NMP’s established QMS, as well as the monitoring processes in place for its continual improvement. The audit result, however, also raised an observation and a minor nonconformity. NMP is given 30 to submit the plan of action together with the objective evidence in addressing the nonconformance.
Nonetheless, the NMP-QMS was recommended for continued certification.
“We consider the audit findings as a constructive comment that will continually help improve our processes and services,” NMP Deputy Executive Director Mayla N. Macadawan said.
As an agency that commits to continuous enhancement of seafarers, maintaining ISO Certification of its QMS confirms the agency’s relevance in carrying out its mandate of upgrading the qualifications of Filipino seafarers and providing responsive maritime industry researches.
In the interim, preparations are underway for another audit before the end of the year. This is with regards the NMP’s intention to upgrade its existing standards to ISO 9001:2015.
Macadawan says NMP continues to upgrade its facilities and provide maritime trainings required pursuant to the STCW as amended in 2010 and other employer required trainings to significantly contribute for the enhanced employability of Filipino seafarers.