The Return of ‘In Person’ Standard Checks

Twelve months on from when HBPW’s BSI standards inspection shifted to Microsoft Teams in the middle of the pandemic, face to face meetings with specialist consultants are slowly returning with HBPW’s ‘perfect score’ still intact after an amazing nine years.

BSI is the guardian of standards in British commerce and engineering. and each year a specialist advisor visits the company’s Retford offices to ensure that systems are still up to scratch and are being tightly adhered to.

Paul Jacklin is the in-house standards man who usually sits shoulder to shoulder with an auditor for up to two days as paperwork is examined in microscopic detail.

“Like everything else in the pandemic period we had to wrestle with online inspections which brought its own challenges, however, there is nothing better than being able to meet someone person to person, certainly when you need to have a meaningful discussion about standards and protocols,” he said.

In his review of the company’s 9001 management systems, the auditor commented: “(HBPW)….has provided evidence of continual improvement throughout these visits which has ensured full compliance to the requirements of these stated standards.

“No new non-conformances have been identified……..generally (HBPW’s) management system continues to support the full requirements of the 9001 standard as evidenced through this visit report. I would like to thank all the audit participants for their valued support.”

Paul Jacklin added: “It is so easy to say, ‘oh just another inspection’ but this always has been and continues to be ‘big news’ because without BSI accreditation or, more to the point, with a sub-standard outcome, we could be severely hampered in the type of work we could bid for.

“Again, this success is a team effort which has to be applauded because, without everyone’s input, it simply would not happen. So, a big thank you to our 35-strong team.”

The systems and processes embodied within the exacting standards and criteria of ISO9001:2015 are designed to maintain safety and quality in all engineering projects.

ISO provides for the simple integration and unification of quality procedures demanded by clients such as Network Rail and Electricity Alliance, and, by aligning its own processes to those of ISO, HBPW continues to ensure that designs and details are delivered on time and to programme constraints, by a well-trained and capable team focussed on quality.

Photo: Brett Gordon www.unsplash.com