UK’s LRQA awards Colombo Dockyard ISO 9001:2015 certifications

The Technical Review Committee of Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), UK, has approved the issue of ISO 9001:2015 certificates to Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) making it one of the very first shipyards in the region to receive a certification to ISO 9001:2015 from LRQA. 

CDPLC received its first certification to the quality management system in the year 1999 from LRQA and has managed to continue its certification successfully for nearly two decades. Total commitment to the quality management system has resulted in achieving higher customer satisfaction levels. Stepping forward from the customer satisfaction, now the organisation has widened its spectrum over all interested parties with the provisions of new ISO 9001:2015 standard and critically looking at its risk factors.

As a leading ship repair, shipbuilding and heavy engineering service provider in one of the most strategic geographical locations, CDPLC is now certified to quality, occupational health and safety as well as  environmental management systems  in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, OHSAS 18001:2007 & ISO 14001:2015 standards. CDPLC was also the first organisation in Sri Lanka to receive ISO 14001:2015 certification from LRQA in 2016. 

The visionary guidance and total commitment from Chairman Dr. T. Takehara and Managing Director D.V. Abeysinghe to accomplish these business critical certification upgrades is bearing fruit, within a relatively short span of time, after a dedicated companywide drive. 

The project leadership was taken by Manager Compliance/Management Representative Manjula Hettiarachchie and his dedicated team, supported by departmental compliance representatives who were instrumental in guiding all the divisions, production and nonproduction, effectively to meet the targeted system requirements.

This was a challenging task to all across the system, as the shipyard was fully occupied and busy during the period these system requirements were implemented and audited by LRQA auditors prior to issuing the certification. Excellent guidance, capabilities and the presence of operational leadership need to be mentioned at the point of time of celebration.          

      
The official certificate was handed over at a ceremony on August 15, 2017, by LRQA Assessor and former LRQA Head Akshay Puri. The certificate was received by Chairman Dr. T. Takehara, MD D.V. Abeysinghe, general managers and Manager Compliance/MR Manjula Hettiarachchie. 

This international certification provides CDPLC with a competitive edge and the necessary recognition as being amongst the best the regional and international shipyards. CDPLC has been operating in collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd, Japan, since 1993, as a shipyard capable of providing premium quality shipbuilding, repairs and heavy and offshore engineering. 

This international certification marks a significant milestone in the corporate calendar of CDPLC’s odyssey of excellence.