SMEC's Quality, Environmental & Safety Management System

SMEC prides itself on its professionalism and is committed to the provision of the best quality of service to its clients. The company is therefore at the forefront of the consulting industry in gaining ISO 9001 certification for Quality Assurance (QA), and now Quality Management (QM). As far as possible we seek to develop our own management procedures using in-house staff resources to ensure that the processes are cost effective and suited to the needs of both our company and our clients. Our QA/QM systems are evolving constantly in accordance with both emerging industry standards and the nature of SMEC's business. SMEC is also in a position to assist clients with the development of their own systems to acquire ISO 9001 and 14001 certification.

The current status of SMEC's QA/QM and EMS certification is outlined below.

Quality Assurance / Management (ISO 9001)

SMEC was first certified to the International Standard ISO 9001 (Quality Systems Model for Quality Assurance) in 1994. Currently all SMEC's permanent Australian offices are certified to ISO 9001, including: the Cooma Head Office, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Tatura (northern Victoria) and Perth.

SMEC's Hong Kong operation (SMEC Asia) was certified to ISO 9001 in 1998.

SMEC's QA / QM system is being continuously improved to better: · reflect the changing nature SMEC's business; · satisfy SMEC's clients; · manage risks; and · manage SMEC's diverse operations, including design, supervision, procurement, environmental studies / planning, traffic studies / planning, geotechnical investigations, training and institutional strengthening.

Environmental Management System (ISO 14001)

In 1999 SMEC obtained certification to the International Environmental Management System Standard ISO 14001. Certification was initially achieved for SMEC's NSW operations in February 1999, then extended to the ACT operations of SMEC in October 1999, to be followed by all other SMEC Australian offices.

SMEC is one of the first consultants in Australia to achieve certification to this International Environmental Management System Standard. SMEC has gained ISO 14001 certification to better: · manage its environmental aspects to minimise SMEC's potential to cause adverse environmental impacts; · understand relevant environmental legislation; · incorporate the relevant requirements of environmental laws into SMEC's products, particluarly its designs and study / planning reports.

Occupational Health & Safety Management System (AS 4801)

SMEC integrated the requirements of the Australian Standard 4801:2000 (OHS Management Systems) into its Quality and Environmental Management System in 2000. The Company is now aiming to achieve certification to AS 4801 in 2001.

Integrated Quality, Environmental & Safety Management System

SMEC has now developed an integrated management system which satisfies the following Standards:

• ISO 9001:2000 (Quality Management Systems – Requirements);
• ISO 14001: 1996 (Environmental Management Systems – Specification); and
• AS 4801: 2000 (Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems – Specification).

This triplicate management system is documented in: · Corporate QES Manual; and · Corporate QES Procedures, first issued on 25 January 2001.

Under the 'umbrella' of SMEC's Corporate Quality, Environmental and Safety Management System, SMEC develops: · a suite of procedures and instructions for each operational unit; and · a suitable project management system for each project, documented in the Project Management Plan, or Project Quality Plan (as required by some clients).