Maravi

KCM backtracks on suppliers quality management system

KCM backtracks on suppliers quality management system
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Thu 25 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT

KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has rescinded its decision to compel all its suppliers to have in place quality management systems (QMS) before they can be registered for contracts.

And Kitwe District Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KDCCI) president Berry Mwango has said KCM has agreed to proposals to conduct quality certification training for selected companies that mainly feed into the production line of the mining company.

Recently, KCM wanted to extend its QMS to its vendors (suppliers) and would- be vendors in line with requirements of International Standards Organisations (ISO) 9001:2008 quality standards to which KCM is certified.

KCM had argued that it would be easier to validate compliance as the system to be implemented would be compatible with the KCM scenario as it would have demonstrated conformity to ISO 9001 quality standards thereby retaining its certification and continue to contribute positively to the national economy.

“If your organisation is not certified to the quality standard, at least one member of the organisation must be trained in QMS from a recognised institution through your own arrangement. Thereafter vendors will be allowed to trade with KCM and vendors who shall have no representative trained at the time of the expiry period will be on standby until the requirement is fulfilled and vendors seeking registration for the first time must fulfill requirements before they can be registered,” KCM stated.

But following a series of meetings with stakeholders such as KDCCI, KCM changed its mind to have compulsory certification on quality standards by all its suppliers.

In an interview, Mwango said quality should not be compromised at any cost and quality certification should be a continuous process among industry players.

“But some suppliers don’t need it. For example, it will not make sense to compulsory certify all suppliers including those who provide cleaning services or landscaping. We need certification but it should mainly apply to companies that feed into the production line of KCM or those involved in the core business of the mines like suppliers of explosives, pumps and related equipment,” said Mwango.

“In this line, we made a proposal to KCM and they agreed to conduct a certification training for about 100 companies, especially those that participate in the core business of the mines so that suppliers can perform better and KCM will benefit more. But we advise our members to enhance quality training on their own and not wait for it to be compulsory.”

Labels: KCM, QUALITY ASSURANCE, SUPPLIERS

posted by MrK @ 2:54 PM