Adamson passes second surveillance audit with upgrade to ISO 9001:2015
Date Posted: December 15, 2017 at 02:14 PM
Jean Laguitao, audit team leader of TUV Rheinland, delivers the initial report of the survey to Adamson administrators at the BA Multimedia Room.
The auditors of TUV Rheinland recently recommended the award of new certificates under ISO 9001:2015 to Adamson University after conducting the surveillance audit of its Academic (Basic, Tertiary, Graduate) and Support Services last December 6 and 7, 2017.
During the closing meeting on the second day, the auditors presented the results. It was an encouraging piece of good news when Jean Laguitao, Kharen Concepcion and John Francis Faustorilla, Jr.
announced in their report that they found zero nonconformity issues. They observed that “the organization has established and maintains an effective system to ensure compliance with its policy and objectives. The audit team confirms in line with the audit targets that the organization’s management system complies with, adequately maintains and implements the requirements of the new standard.”
The new certification is actually a yearend accomplishment of a target in AdU’s new Five-year Strategic Plan, which is to transition smoothly to the new version of ISO Quality Management System from 2008 to 2015 standard and pass the certification audit. From 2013 to 2016, Adamson University had attained ISO 9001:2008 certification from TUV Rheinland. With the introduction of ISO 9001:2015, it began preparing for the transition. The school was scheduled for an audit in early December.
Also in their report, the auditors noted that the commitment towards continual improvement was evident. Among the positive findings identified were the accreditation of academic programs, PTC accreditation of Engineering programs, partnership with Mingshin University of Science and Technology (Taiwan) and Teikyo University (Japan) for scholarships, Technology Business Incubation Plant in Tanauan, Batangas and commercialization of Vigormin, performance in the board examinations (above national passing percentage with placers), Top performing ITSO in the country, complete Senior High School offering, facilities improvement, new Five-Year Strategic Plan 2017-2022, accreditation of the University’s Ethics Review Board, seven consecutive UAAP Softball Championship, Champion in UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2017, and A.M.Y. National Intellectual Property Award Grand Winner 2016.
Another noteworthy positive finding mentioned was in relation to the attainment of targets in the previous Five-Year Strategic Plan. The auditors cited the report of the Institutional Planning and Policy Development Office (IPPDO) that the University was moderately successful in the attainment of the original targets set four years ago. Adamson engaged Reyes Tacandong & Co., (RT& Co.) to facilitate the impact assessment and presentation of the results of implementation of 2012-2017 Strategic Plan as well as the prospective 2017-2022 Strategic Plan development.
The auditors also pointed out at least 13 Opportunities For Improvement (OFI) in several offices and classroom proceedings. In essence, though, the OFIs are areas where the institution gets ideas from the auditors’ perspective that may be valuable as it pushes its quality management system for continual improvement.
The audit team explained the audit procedure and methodology thus: “Management system effectiveness was verified on site by means of random sampling by an appropriately selected audit team. This applies in particular to the compliance of workflows with standard requirements and the descriptions in management system documentation. The special features of the organization’s business activities, the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements and the requirements set forth in other generally applicable documents were also taken into account. This was done by means of a sampling approach, by conducting interviews and reviewing the appropriate documentation.”
The awarding of certificates for ISO 9001:2015 to Adamson University reiterates the fact that as one of the leading higher educational institutions in the country, the school is consistent in its commitment to maintaining a quality management system for the benefit of everyone, particularly its main stakeholders, the students.
In his closing remarks, University President Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim, CM thanked the auditors of TUV Rheinland for the encouraging result of the audit and the university community for their hard work. He reminded everyone, though, not to get into a mode that everything is ok, for the bulk of OFI is a challenge to pay greater attention to the respective areas so that these will be labeled competent. “We are upgraded to offer quality and excellent opportunities for learning,” he said.
