A Commitment to Quality, Safety, and Environmental Responsibility
illumin8 FZE is thrilled to share a major achievement in our journey toward excellence. Our factory in Sharjah has earned ISO certification from DQS for three critical international standards:
- ISO 9001 (Quality Management System),
- ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System)
- ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System).
This accomplishment reflects our dedication for improvement in every aspect of our business. We are committed to enhancing our processes, ensuring the safety of our employees, and protecting the environment.
Understanding the ISO Standards: Why They Matter
The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards are globally recognised as benchmarks for quality, safety, and environmental responsibility. By achieving ISO certification, illumin8 FZE demonstrates our adherence to these high standards. It is a crucial part of maintaining the trust of our customers, employees, and the communities we serve.
- ISO 9001: Quality Management System
ISO 9001 sets the framework for a Quality Management System (QMS) that ensures we meet customer requirements every time. Implementing ISO 9001 allows us to improve the quality of our products and services. As well as enhance customer satisfaction, and streamline our operations. - ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management System
ISO 45001 focuses on managing occupational health and safety risks. This standard ensures that we follow safety regulations. It helps to reduce workplace incidents and create a safer working environment for everyone. - ISO 14001: Environmental Management System
ISO 14001 establishes the criteria for an Environmental Management System (EMS). This standard helps us improve our environmental performance. It gives us tools to manage our impact on the environment and ensures compliance with environmental regulations.
Project Scope and Objectives
The main objective of our ISO certification project was to align our operations with these three standards. It's a huge step to improve our quality management, health and safety protocols, and sustainability efforts. The project included the following key areas:
- For ISO 9001: We established a Quality Management System (QMS) that meets customer and regulatory requirements. The system focuses on improving product quality and customer satisfaction.
- For ISO 45001: We developed a comprehensive system to manage occupational health and safety risks. We made sure to follow safety regulations and reduce workplace incidents.
- For ISO 14001: We implemented a system to manage our environmental impacts. The system focuses on improving our environmental performance and adhering to environmental regulations.
Steps to Achieving ISO Certification
Our journey to ISO certification involved several crucial steps. Each aimed to bring us closer to the highest standards of quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.
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Initial Planning and Gap Analysis
We began by conducting an in-depth analysis of our existing processes in relation to the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001. This gap analysis identified areas where our practices needed improvement.
- ISO 9001: We reviewed our current quality processes and practices to determine where changes were necessary to follow the QMS.
- ISO 45001: We assessed our health and safety procedures, identifying gaps in our approach.
- ISO 14001: We evaluated our environmental management practices. We were able to recognise areas for improvement in our environmental performance and compliance.
This analysis provided a clear roadmap for the necessary improvements to align with ISO standards.
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Management Commitment and Training
Strong commitment from all levels of the organisation was crucial to achieving ISO certification. All employees, directors, and partners participated in planning and implementing the required changes.
- We ensured that our management team understood the requirements of the QMS. They went through regular meetings, training sessions, and workshops.
- Both management and employees went through training on health and safety requirements. It emphasised the importance of maintaining a safe working environment.
- We educated our staff on environmental policies and procedures. We focused on the importance of minimising our environmental impact.
This phase was crucial to improve our culture of quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.
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System Design and Documentation
We designed an integrated management system that meets the regulations for ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001. This centralised system improves efficiency and effectiveness and provides future opportunities for improvement.
The new system manual includes policies addressing ISO regulations, existing customer-specific policies, and newly developed procedures. Over 120 forms were created to ensure proper documentation and adherence to these new practices.
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Implementation
With the systems designed and documented, we moved on to the implementation phase. We shared the new processes and procedures across the organisation.
- ISO 9001: We implemented the QMS, ensuring that all employees were trained and equipped to follow the new processes.
- ISO 45001: We put health and safety measures into practice, including regular safety checks, incident reporting, and risk assessments.
- ISO 14001: We executed our environmental management processes, focusing on reducing waste and conserving resources.
This phase scoped much of the training and coaching required to enable our teams to achieve success and development, within our system and personal responsibilities. This was handled by our management representative and project manager who aimed to enable all the staff in areas relating to operational compliance and efficiency. This phase was critical for embedding the new systems into our day-to-day operations, turning plans into action.
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Internal Audits and Reviews
To ensure that our systems were functioning as intended, we conducted internal audits for each ISO standard. These audits identified any non-conformities or areas for improvement.
- We performed management reviews to assess the performance of each system. We made adjustments where necessary to ensure continuous improvement.
- We conducted four formal internal audits over six months. They coexist with our day-to-day quality assurance checks during the implementation phase.
Internal audits and reviews were vital for ensuring that our systems were effective. After six months we were fully prepared for the certification audit.
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Corrective Actions
Any issues identified during internal audits were promptly addressed. We documented corrective actions and monitored their effectiveness. We addressed and resolved any non-conformities before the certification audit.
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Pre-Assessment (Optional)
Before the official audit, we engaged a third-party consultant to conduct a pre-assessment. This optional step helped us gauge our readiness and identify any last-minute adjustments.
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Certification Audit
The certification audit was the final step in the certification process. Over three days, DQS auditors conducted a thorough review of our systems for ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001.
- We are proud to report that the auditors found no major non-conformities, reflecting the hard work and dedication of our entire team.
- Following the audit, we received official certification for all three ISO standards.
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Post-Certification and Continuous Improvement
Achieving ISO certification is just the beginning. We are committed to continuous improvement to maintain our certification.
- We have scheduled regular surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance with ISO standards.
- We are working on digitalising our forms in our custom-built ERP system for better process control and efficiency. This includes linking our processes to business objectives and KPIs to ensure that we are always striving for excellence.
- Our future plans include implementing Lean methodology and 5S practices to enhance our efficiency and performance.
The Impact of ISO Certification on illumin8 FZE
Achieving ISO certification has had a profound impact on illumin8 FZE. It strengthened our commitment to quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.
- For Our Customers: ISO certification assures our customers that we meet the highest standards. It enhances our reputation and building trust in our products and services.
- For Our Employees: ISO 45001 certification has created a safer working environment. We reduced the risk of incidents and ensured that everyone goes home safe at the end of the day.
- For Our Community and the Environment: ISO 14001 certification demonstrates our commitment to protecting the environment. We are proactive in reducing our environmental impact and conserving resources.
Looking Ahead: Our Commitment to Excellence
At illumin8 FZE, achieving ISO certification is not the end of our journey—it is a stepping stone toward even greater achievements. We are committed to maintaining our ISO certifications. We are improving our processes to meet the evolving needs of the market.
We will continue to invest in training, process improvement, and innovation to ensure that we remain at the forefront of our industry. Our goal is to set new standards for quality, safety, and environmental responsibility, making a positive impact on the world around us.
ISO certification marks a significant milestone for illumin8 FZE. It is a testament to our dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence. We are proud of what we have achieved and are excited about the future as we continue to build on this strong foundation.