NSTec Recommended for ISO Certification in Quality, Environmental Management Systems

August 27, 2008

National Security Technologies (NSTec), the operating contractor for the Nevada Test Site (NTS), has achieved a recommendation for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification from Lloyds Registrar Quality Assurance (LRQA). The organization is presented for recognition in both Quality Management and Environmental Management systems. The three-year plan to receive the prestigious ISO 9001 (QMS) and ISO 14001:2000 (EMS) certification was realized one year ahead of schedule, following the conclusion of a registration audit conducted June 16-20.

ISO standards are an international consensus of good quality management practices. They ensure desirable characteristics of products and services such as environmental friendliness, safety, reliability, efficiency, and interchangeability.

“This is a tremendous achievement for our company,” says NSTec President Steve Younger. “To be certified by an independent body for excellence in these key areas is recognition of incredible work and progress.”

The ISO standard provides a tried and tested framework for taking a systematic approach to managing the organization’s processes to consistently produce products that satisfy customers’ expectations. ISO 9001 sets a standard for what an organization does to fulfill the customer’s quality and applicable regulatory requirements while aiming to enhance customer satisfaction and improve performance. ISO 140001 includes the standard for what an organization does to minimize harmful effects on the environment caused by activities and achieve continual improvement of its environmental performance.

In January 2007, NSTec established an ISO QMS/EMS Integrated Working Group to implement the plan, establish a schedule and prepare NSTec for the certification process. Among the benchmarks the group achieved within the past 18 months were:

• Developing and reviewing the ISO Charter and Implementation Plan
• Receive extensive training on ISO assessment
• Schedule and monitor ISO awareness training
• Perform an internal baseline management assessment
• Perform a gap analysis of ISO to NSTec program requirements
• Actively participate in the Lloyds Registrar Quality Assurance (LRQA) Assessment
• Develop and deliver an ISO awareness briefing to all employees.

Steve Mellington, acting manager of the National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office, applauded NSTec’s efforts as an important step to ensure the completion of company commitments. “I want to congratulate (NSTec) for the extraordinary job they’ve done to reach this significant achievement within the ISO community,” he says.