A glimpse into Brian Dixon’s visit to Pakistan

Brian Dixon is the Technical Manager at TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification Pakistan. Brian has an experience of around 40 years in the certification business in different countries across the globe. During his recent visit from the UK to Pakistan, we took this opportunity to ask him about the certification business in Pakistan.

TUV Austria BIC. Pakistan: How does it feel to be in Lahore after a gap of 20 Years?

Brian Dixon: It feels exciting, a little strange but exciting. I think after 20 years, things change. One thing that doesn’t change is the friendship of the people you originally worked with 20 years ago. That makes it so much easier to come to Pakistan today, particularly with the ability to travel a lot easier now away from the past restrictions.

TUV Austria BIC. Pakistan: How important do you think are national accreditation bodies, and where do you see PNAC’s role in the future?

Brian Dixon: Every county has one accreditation body, and the national accreditation body for Pakistan is PNAC (Pakistan National Accreditation Council). I think the national accreditation body leaves them a member of IAF, which is the International Accreditation Forum, which is very important globally because it puts all national accreditation bodies on the same level. So it’s a very good situation for PNAC to be in. I think how Pakistan’s economy will develop internally and for exports gives them an excellent opportunity to develop further with many different international standards they can offer. So that companies like TUV. can become accredited and pass that accreditation on to our customers because with the IAF situation, it’s once accredited and accepted everywhere, and that’s on a global basis, so PNAC can only develop and go further from here.

TUV Austria BIC. Pakistan: Do you think certification is still as relevant as ten years ago?

Brian Dixon: I think it’s even more relevant today. Many companies provide certification, but the difference between those in TUV Austria BIC. Pakistan is an accredited one, which means we don’t act independently. We have rules and regulations that we have to follow, and we also have PNAC, who will come and audit us on an annual basis. So that gives greater confidence in our certification, so we must understand the difference between accredited and unaccredited certifications.

TUV Austria BIC. Pakistan: How important is training for companies considering embarking upon a certification journey?

Brian Dixon: I think its extremely important because when a company puts in a management system and gets it certified, they have to take ownership of that system, and so to understand how to take ownership, The training is particularly important, not just for internal auditing but also for the management of organizations to be able to understand what their responsibility is and also how to manage the control of the system.

TUV Austria BIC. Pakistan: 2022 marks a very special year for us here at TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection and Certification Pakistan as we complete 25 years in Pakistan. Would you like to say something on this occasion?

Mr. Brian Dixon: Certainly, I think, first of all, Congratulations! Twenty-five year is an outstanding achievement, and I think it shows the long-term effect of the certification in Pakistan. I think it shows confidence in clients that you know we will be around for a long time. So, I am glad to be here on this special occasion and hope it continues for many more years in the future.

TUV Austria BIC. Pakistan: Lastly, we would like to ask you another question not related to the certification business. What do you think of Pakistani food and Cuisine?

Brian Dixon: I think it’s really nice. The problem is that people in the United Kingdom get used to spice, and it’s either from India or China, but Pakistan gives a nice balance between the two. Yes, you can have spice, but it’s not always hot spice. I think the flavors of Pakistan are very, very good, and I’m looking forward to having enjoyable meals while I am here.

World Environment Day 2022

Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year to raise awareness about degrading environmental conditions and to encourage people globally to take positive environmental actions to help create a better future. The problems of natural resource exploitation, climate change, and marine pollution are today more significant than ever.

History of World Environment Day

The famous Stockholm conference in 1972 became the first world conference with the environment as its primary agenda. It declared the “right to live in a health environment as a basic human right.” This conference saw the creation of the United Nations Environment program.

The celebration of world environment day year is done according to a specific theme and slogan that addresses the time’s primary environmental concern. It is hosted by a different country each year.

Significance of This Environment Day

2022 is a historic milestone that marks 50 years since the 1972 Stockholm Conference. With Sweden as the best country, World Environment Day’s slogan is 2022, “Only One Earth,” which focuses on living sustainability in harmony with nature.

World Environment Day comes with the planet facing multiple crises, from climate change to loss of biodiversity and increased carbon emissions.

1) It Reconnects Us to Nature

Sometimes we forget just how many natural systems support our well-being. But we’re part of nature, and we depend on it.

2) It Raises Awareness

More and more people are starting to understand that we must manage our planet’s resources and ecosystems.

3) It Encourages Us to Take Action

The environment has become increasingly polluted with contaminants and toxins, which harm our earth. World Environment Day inspires us to do something about it and fix the environment we can’t live without.

How Can You Celebrate World Environment Day 2022?

There are numerous ways of celebrating World Environment Day! And most of them are free of cost. The theme of 2022 is #ONLYONEEARTH. We’ve got just this one planet, and we must preserve it! And this is how you can contribute:

Check on social media which group is organizing a plantation drive in your area; planting trees is one of the most effective ways to improve air quality and provide a livelihood for animals and birds. If you can’t find such a group, plant a tree yourself, call your friends and family, and plant it together.
Clean up a stretch of land in your town or village. Just an hour of a clean-up with even just ten persons can make a considerable difference and set an example to others not to litter.
Organize a small presentation or screen a film on the importance of nature in our lives. Whether at school, gym, temple, or your interest club – spreading awareness goes a long way.
Choose a cause (e.g., ban single-use plastic) and go for a cycle tour around your town/village/area at each stop; inform people how they can contribute.
Look for like-minded people and restore a water body in your area. Be assured that your neighbors will be eternally grateful to you.
Don’t forget to take pictures and record videos of your activities to inspire others. Even if one person understands your message, you have already contributed.

The ISO Certification – Why Organizations Need It?

The ISO Certification - Why Organizations Need It?

Organizations need the ISO Certifications to strengthen their management systems and gain recognition and competitive advantage in the industry. Achieving the ISO Certification from TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. demonstrates that your business complies with the regular bodies’ best practices and requirements. Hence, it ensures operational excellence and continual improvement of the crucial management aspects of your organization.

Other assured benefits that come with these are cost savings, increased trust of stakeholders, including customers, greater profitability, and international business opportunities.

ISO Certification Simplified in 3 Steps

Getting ISO Certification is never a simple process but with TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. partner by your side, you can get in a smooth, hassle-free, and fast manner. Here are the critical steps that they would lead you through.

Step 1 – Gap Analysis
Step 2– Implementation
Step 3 – Certification

Step 1 – Gap Analysis

The TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. would review your organization on-site, including documents, current management system, and procedures. They would do that to identify the areas in your business that fail to meet the requirements of the chosen ISO standard. It is termed gap analysis.

Step 2- Implementation

The most crucial point is restructuring and implementing the management system after filling all the identified gaps. The TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. would make sure that you have completed all the necessary procedural changes highlighted by them in the analysis. They even provide technical guidance, templates, and audit services to assist in implementation.

Step 3 – Certification

Training Auditors from The TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. would go through your implemented system along with the documentation. Once they are convinced that all standard requirements are fulfilled, they would reward the ISO Certification.

Conclusion

The key to successful ISO Certification depends on the expertise of The TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. you have chosen. We will not make your certification process more straightforward and smoother but also cost-effective. Also, with these few steps to follow, you face more minor complications, making the process time-saving and non-disruptive for your business. Therefore, select The TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. for your ISO Journey.

The ISO 27001 Certification – Who Needs It?

The ISO 27001 Certification - Who Needs It?

Organizations of all types and sizes are concerned about securing their information today as cyber-attacks, information breaches, and privacy infringements are increasing worldwide. Thus, all organizations need the ISO 27001 certification, an internationally recognized certification and the ultimate benchmark for information security management. It enables organizations to ensure data security by establishing, operating, and continually improving a robust Information Security Management System (ISMS).

5 Ways the ISO 27001 Certification Helps to Ensure Data Security

These are how the ISO 27001 certification helps ensure your organization’s information security.

Improved Data Security Management
Regulatory Compliance
Risk Assessment and Control
Continuous Improvement
Establishment of Trust

1). Improved Data Security Management

Implementing an ISMS puts forth a set of practices and controls for information security across all processes and levels of the organization.

2). Regulatory Compliance

The ISO 27001 standard also needs your organization to comply with stringent data protection laws and other regulatory requirements.

3). Risk Assessment and Control

The ISMS, which aligns with your organization’s processes and technologies, help assess the potential security risks and determine controls to prevent them.

4). Continuous Improvement

The ISO 27001 standard, just like any other standard, focuses on continual improvement, which helps strengthen your ISMS to make it capable of addressing evolving cyber security challenges.

5). Establishment of Trust

Implementing ISMS and practices for data security helps your organization establish trust in customers and widens your scope to new customers.

Final Words

If you still have not achieved the ISO 27001 certification for your business, you may risk your business information and clients. Make this certification a priority for ensuring your organization’s information security and winning your clients’ confidence. If achieving the certification seems challenging for you, get in touch with TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. We can help you through the implementation of an appropriate ISMS and make it ready for the ISO 27001 Certification.

Dr. Reinhard Preiss – Executive Business Director (Industry & Energy) TUV AUSTRIA Group Visits Pakistan!

Dr. Reinhard Preiss - Executive Business Director (Industry & Energy) TUV AUSTRIA Group Visits Pakistan!

Dr. Reinhard Preiss – Executive Business Director (Industry & Energy) TÜV AUSTRIA Group visited Pakistan after a gap of three years. We took this opportunity to ask him about changes in the Testing, Inspection & Certification (TIC) industry over the last few years.

TUV Austria BIC. Pakistan: How do you think the Testing, Inspection & Certification industry has changed over the last few years, and what changes do you see occurring in the coming years?

Dr. Reinhard Preiss: The Testing, Inspection & Certification industry has changed in the past nine years. We also noticed that the changes are different from the global point of view and western countries or in Asia, Pakistan, and other countries. We see that the demand for quality and safety, and security is steadily increasing, so that’s a trend. We are pretty sure about, and concerning this, some new services are coming up on new requirements in the market like sustainability, environmental care, and especially IT Security and digitalization, so there is steady development. We see it on a global scale, and we see that some of these services are already being asked for in Pakistan, and also this demand, I guess, will increase in the coming years.

TUV Austria BIC. Pakistan: As you know, 2022 is a very special year for all of us at TUV Austria. What would you like to say on this occasion?

Dr. Reinhard Preiss: 2022 is a very special year for us at TUV Austria. On the one hand, we have the 25th anniversary of Pakistan’s TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification. I am proud that during the last 25 years, we were able to have our name in the light of quality and safety in a prominent way in Pakistan. On the one hand, we have the 25th of TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection and Certification in Pakistan. We also get excellent feedback from our clients that they are satisfied with our service because I have to say that we are in the service industry in finding solutions for our clients is the most important task we have to perform.

Here is A Glimpse into Dr. Reinhard Preiss’s Visit to Pakistan:

Typical Reasons Businesses Fail to Manage ISO 9001 Certification

Organizations need to get a defined quality management system or QMS, which will help them monitor the performance of their processes and make improvements to maintain the quality of their products or services. The best possible way to achieve a great QMS is ISO 9001 certification, as it ensures organizations follow the general regulations for quality.

However, applying a suitable QMS to your business and achieving certification is not easy. Many fail to do it owing to the following reasons.

5 Causes for failure of ISO 9001 Certification

You need to recognize these five reasons that can cause failure when getting ISO Certification for quality management.

Management Attitude
Not Consulting Experts
Lack of Resources
Lack of Motivation
Complicated Process

1). Management Attitude

Low cooperation from management is the most significant cause of an organization’s certification failure. The management team could implement an independent QMS in the business as an unnecessary or additional investment of resources when there are inherent processes for quality control.

2). Not Consulting Experts

Understanding the ISO Certification procedure and the critical documents needed for QMS and ISO 9001 compliance requirements is necessary to get certified. However, without TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd., you do not have all the information and will fail to comply with the certification needs.

3). Lack of Resources

Sometimes, even with management support, a business fails to get certification because it lacks the resources to implement the QMS, assess and monitor quality performance, and bring improvements. Resources refer to time, costs, human resources, or the dedicated team working on the QMS.

4). Lack of Motivation

There should be a common motivation among all the organization members to go for an effective QMS and achieve quality certification. Implementing the QMS involves specific organizational changes, and people should not resist the urge to accept them.

5). Complicated Process

The certification process seems complex to many people in a business, and the time and costs involved make somebody more apprehensive about the success of the certification. Therefore, to get rid of the complexities in the accreditation and simply achieve it, they should seek guidance from the TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd.

Conclusion

ISO 9001 certification success mainly depends on the correct knowledge about the certification process and how well you can overcome these failures. To ensure that you achieve certification, you must follow the certification requirements and the certification process and figure out how to develop the QMS, train your employees, get resources, involve management, etc.

Why Businesses Need ISO 22301 Certification

What is ISO 22301, and Why Should Your Business Get It?

ISO 22301 is the specially developed standard certification for business continuity management. It provides a framework for implementing a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS). Achieving the ISO 22301 Certification is the right step for your organization in today’s unpredictable and volatile business environment. It demonstrates to your stakeholders that your business can quickly recover from operational disruptions and continue providing efficient products or services.

While there are many incidents or unforeseen events that can cause disruptions in your business operations, a few common ones are:

IT Failure
Infrastructure or building due to fire, flood, etc.
Utility Disruption
Vandalism or Terror Attack
Pandemic like COVID-19

Getting the ISO 22301 Certification for business continuity management would help your business with:

Emergency Preparedness and Response
Effective Crisis Management
Operational Resilience
Financial Stability
Supply Chain Efficiency
Corporate Reputation

The ISO 22301 Certification is achievable by all organizations regardless of their nature of operations, size, complexities, or demography. It is attainable by any organization that wants to enhance its capabilities to respond to business risks or uncertainties quickly.

To get your business certified, contact TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. and look at our consultation and audit services. They would perform essential gap analysis, provide guidance on BCMS implementation and lead you on the route to successful certification.

TUV Austria Bureau of Inspection & Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. is a leading certification company based in Pakistan that has been assisting businesses to get quickly certified with ISO Management Standards. They offer services for a wide range of standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, and ISO 22301. Conduct our team today if you want your business to get a certification.

Safety Day Celebrations

The annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work is celebrated on 28th April. This year’s theme ensures everyone contributes to a safe and healthy working culture. About 2.78 million work-related deaths are recorded annually, of which 87% are related to occupational diseases. Safety and health measures at work can save lives. And this World day for Safety and Health at Work, We pledge to continue our effort to keep our work and our employees safe, healthy, and protected physically & mentally.

Eight Ways to Enhance Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace

1). Putting People First

A company culture that’s geared to the well-being of everyone will pay dividends. Your team will feel valued and motivated to go the extra mile.

2). Address Stress

Engage with your employees through one-to-ones and encourage conversation around mental health.

3). Confidence & Communication

Adopt an open-door policy, so staff feels comfortable sharing ideas, concerns, and areas for improvement.

4). Combat Presenteeism

Encourage unwell staff to stay at home – health comes first. Taking a sick day means they’ll recover quicker and won’t transmit illness to others in your team.

5). Recognize Any Safety Gaps

Learn from past experiences and review your safety policy. Are there any safety gaps?

6). Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle

Physical activity can boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality, and energy and reduce stress. A healthy team = a healthy business!

7). Covid – Adjust to a New Normal

Build immunity across your business by encouraging flexible or remote working and healthy office practices.

8). Keep learning

Never stop learning; equip your workforce with the right PPE and invest in their training to keep them compliant, protected, and well at work.

Safety Related Tips

Preventing workplace incidents is everyone’s job, and your personal safety is your responsibility.
Dress appropriately, from clothing to footwear.
Keep work areas neat and tidy.
Follow the rules.
Report workplace accidents or safety incidents.
Know and follow emergency procedures.
Avoid drugs and alcohol at work.
Take breaks appropriately.

Here is a glimpse of Safety Day Celebrations held at Interloop Limited

This activity aimed to create awareness among the employees on how a strong OHS culture & system is necessary to reduce work-related accidents.

With our benefits and policies

We promise to keep you and your loved ones safe, Always.
Safety and health at work must evolve to include Work Stress, Mental and Physical Health, and Personal & Professional life balance.
We promise to ensure that this is taken care of with our programs, Support groups and Helplines, Mandatory and Voluntary Programmes, Schedules, Work Hours, Work Environment, Work Culture, and our tie-ups, free for all our employees and their immediate families.
Our strict covid_19 safety guidelines, covers, and observation rules will continue with WFH policies and benefits.

Purpose of the ISO 9001 Certification

The key purpose of the ISO 9001 certification is to help organizations develop and implement a feasible QMS (Quality Management System) that continually enhances the quality of products/services. The ISO 9001 quality management standard is globally recognized and the most accepted QMS for several reasons. It allows organizations to structure their QMS according to their products/services, customer expectations, and risks. Simply put, it can be the cornerstone for your business if it seeks quality excellence and higher customer satisfaction.

How does ISO 9001 Help Complete Quality Management?

The purpose of the ISO 9001 Certification is to achieve quality excellence and improve it continually. Here is how.

1. Keeping Focus on the Customers

ISO 9001 calls for designing a QMS that uniquely caters to the customers’ needs and expectations. Reviewing and evaluating the customer feedback and complaints need to be done to improve customer satisfaction.

2. Plan-Do-Check-Act Methodology

An organization leads ISO 9001 QMS after evaluating its quality management approach’s context, strengths, and shortcomings. Using a Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology, they identify all the weaknesses and nonconformities to address them.

3. Risk Management

ISO 9001 requirements focus on risk management which means employees are aware of the potential risk to the products or services. It means you should develop a risk culture where all types of risks are identified earlier and prevented.

The ISO 9001 quality management standard can be achieved by organizations of any type or size, regardless of their products or services. Its relentless focus on quality management and continual improvement helps you to raise your customers’ satisfaction level, manage risks, boost operational efficiency, and encourage employee participation. Also, your business is recognized in the market as an internationally accepted standard.

How ISO 45001 Ensures the Health and Safety of Workers?

ISO 45001 is a comprehensive Approach to Occupational Health and Safety. Businesses, especially manufacturing, construction, chemical plants, and heavy engineering, need to meet the compliance requirements related to workplace safety to ensure their workers’ wellbeing. ISO 45001 is the internationally acclaimed certification for Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS), which helps organizations with a comprehensive approach to preventing work-related risks, injuries, and illness.

The following points explain how implementing the ISO 45001 standard ensures the health and safety of the workers in your organization.

1. Development of OHSMS

It underscores the requirements and guidelines to develop the right OHSMS suitable for your workplace and workers’ needs.

Determination of Risks

It helps you identify the possible work-related risks with appropriate processes and mitigate/prevent them with practical actions.

3. OHSMS Minimizes Workplace Incidents

The ISO 45001 standard calls for implementing controls, safety practices, and employee training to reduce incidents as much as possible.

4. OHSMS Enhances Workers’ Participation

Each clause of the standard incorporates risk management, which means active participation of the employees in identifying risks and reducing work-related accidents.

5. Continually Improves OHS performance.

It calls for periodic evaluation of the workplace and OHSMS to find ways to improve the organization’s health and safety performance.

Key Takeaway

ISO 45001 is the internationally accredited standard for occupational health and safety management, so there is no better approach than ensuring your workers’ safety. Work injuries or hazards have an immense effect on the reputation of a business in society due to the loss or physical damage they cause to the workers. Therefore, give your workers faith in you and secure society’s confidence. Implementing the ISO 45001-certified OHSMS in your organization is a wise move.