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NTA passes ISO 9001:2015 1st surveillance audit for recertification
The National Tobacco Administration got recommendation for the continuation of its ISO 9001:2015 QMS certification as a result of the 1st surveillance audit on July 27.
The audit was conducted by the international certification body Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) on virtual platform using Microsoft Teams in two sites: the Central Office in Ben-Lor Building in Quezon Avenue in Quezon City, and the Farm Technology and Services Department in Batac City.
With the continuation of certification, the agency is again recognized by the standard-setting body for its commitment to providing customers with the highest level of products and services within the organization's policy and objectives.
During the closing meeting, SGS auditor and Team Leader Gemma Jimenea granted the agency continued certification after revealing that the audit resulted in no major or minor nonconformities and corrective actions. Certified are the agency's core processes, namely, Research and Development, Regulatory Services, and Technology Assistance, Extension and Production Services.
The surveillance audit involved the evaluation of people, technology and processes within the agency in reviewing the performance and effectiveness of the QMS based on customer feedback and satisfaction results; project performance and conformity of products and services; effectiveness of actions taken to address risks and opportunities; opportunities for improvement; results of audit conducted by the IQA; and performance of external providers.
Jimenea, with co-auditors Arnold Dizon and Magdalena P. Balingit, concluded that the agency, following an extensive audit process, has demonstrated the ability of the management system to systematically achieve requirements of the audit standard.
NTA Administrator and CEO Robert Victor G. Seares Jr commended the NTA QMS Implementing Team, who was behind the recertification efforts, for managing to keep the agency processes worthy of ISO’s standards despite the increasing challenges under the new normal in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The continued certification came after the celebration of the agency’s 33rd founding anniversary on July 24 with the theme “Nagkakaisa tungo sa panibagong pag-asa”.
The agency now vows to maintain and sustain the quality standards in its core process as it enters another year of service with renewed hope to the tobacco growers and other industry stakeholders.
NTA first earned the ISO 9001:2008 for QMS in 2016 and successfully transitioned to ISO 9001:2015 QMS in 2018 for its core process, which incorporates risk management to enable organizations to identify and provide a systematic approach to risk for more efficient quality management system.
Quality Management Representative (QMR) and Corporate Planning Manager Fortuna C. Benosa and Deputy QMR and Finance Manager Ma. Teresa B. Laudencia head the Core Team of the NTA QMS, with Dinah Pichay (Internal Quality Team Leader), Perla C. Manzon (Documents and Records Controller), Zenaida T. Arrojo (Quality Workplace Team Leader), and Michelle P. Nacpil (Training and Education Team Leader), as members. Members of the QMS Process Teams are Dr. Roberto R. Bonoan (Research and Development Services), Atty. Rohbert A. Ambros (Regulatory Services), Imelda N. Rinen (Technology Assistance, Extension and Production Support Services), Neyo E. Valdez (Customer Satisfaction), and Priscilla S. Esguerra (Information and Communication Technology Services); with Teresita D. Dela Rosa as Secretariat Chair.
Administrator Seares, along with the two Deputy Administrators Benedicto M. Savellano (Support Services) and Dr. Bonoan (Operations), leads the Policy and Steering Team that guides the NTA QMS members.
[Photo credits: Roberto R. Bonoan, Dinah E. Pichay]
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