Staff from different divisions of UP ISSI, led by its Quality Management System (QMS) manager, Engr. Ma. Luisa S. Lee, attended the one-day training, QMS Manager Development Program, last 13 February 2017 at the Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City. The said training was conducted by Quality Plus Management Consulting Co. of Prof. Henry O. Palaca, a regular resource speaker for some of UP ISSI’s training programs.
Asked about the importance of the said development program for UP ISSI staff, Ms. Lee said that part of the requirements for ISO 9001:2015 certification is the training of UP ISSI’s key staff on the QMS standard. Thus, she was joined by representatives from the different divisions of UP ISSI–namely, Nova Z. Navo of the Director’s Office, Jocelle P. Mamaril of the Training and Entrepreneurship Education Division, Engr. Jefferson C. Sumalabe of the Research Division, and Engr. Bernie F. Villaluna of the Information and Public Affairs Office.
Mr. Palaca divided the training into eight sections, starting with the roles, responsibilities, and competencies of the QMS manager, followed by a review of the ISO 9001:2015 requirements–including the documentation framework, process mapping, and corrective action system–and ending with creating a quality culture of risk-based thinking and excellence. He finished the training program with a quote from quality guru W. Edwards Deming: “A bad system will beat a good person every time.”
The QMS Manager Development Program attended by some of UP ISSI’s key personnel is part of the Institute’s revival program to align with ISO 9001 and eventually be certified under the standard. It was started five years ago but with the obsolescence of ISO 9001:2008 the Institute is now moving towards ISO 9001:2015.