Mr. Shahid Mushtaq, external auditor from W3 Solutions, affirmed for the third time during the Surveillance 02 audit that DMMMSU’s quality management system conforms with ISO 9001:2015 standard which is based on a number of quality management principles which include top management motivation, strong customer focus, process approach, and continual improvement.

Surveillance 02 audit whose scope covers instruction, research, extension, and support services ran from November 2 to 4, 2022.

The surveillance process includes interview and discussions with departmental management, review of data and records related to the level of performance of the activities involved against required/expected outcomes, review and audit of the particular department’s personnel training and competence and the implementation of Management System requirements. Mr. Shahid also did a virtual tour in the various units of the University.

The surveillance audit was guided by the following objectives:

• Gain confidence that the organization’s certified management system has continued to fulfil requirements between recertification audits;
• Ensure that any findings raised during the previous audit have been satisfactorily addressed by the University; thus, ensuring adequacy with the relevant requirements of the Standard involved, as well as evaluate the organization’s treatment of complaints;
• Assess performance of legal compliance; review progress of planned activities aimed at continual improvement; ensure continuing operational control; review of any changes since the last visit and ensure that W3 and Accreditation Body marks are being used in conformance with W3 ’s Guide to the Use of Accreditation and Certification Marks;
• Assess the organization’s implementation of previously determined processes or approaches to periodically review the factors that are involved in the context of the organization and the Needs and Expectations of External and Interested Parties;
• Assess the organization’s implementation of change to the Management System seen as necessary as a result of any changes identified in the context of the organization and the Needs and Expectations of External and Interested Parties;
• Assess the organization’s implementation of Internal Audit and Management Review activities and the implementation of change arising from any identified needs for improvement of the Management System as a result of those activities;
• Assess the organization’s implementation, monitoring and realization of documented Objectives and associated plans and the establishment of further Objectives that are relevant to the organization’s context and performance levels;
• Assess the extent and effectiveness of implementation of the Management System of a representative sample of all areas, activities, functions of the organization as defined within the documented scope of the organization and as identified within the applied for scope of certification. The representative sample shall ensure that all areas, activities, functions of the organization shall be assessed at least 1 time over the surveillance routines within the period of validity of the certification;
• Ensure internal audits and management review have been performed to program; review actions taken on nonconformities identified during the previous audit; evaluate your treatment of complaints;
• Assess the organization’s identification of External and Interested Parties and Needs and Expectations arising from the identified External and Internal Parties;
• Assess the organization’s identification of the Risks and Opportunities arising from the determination of the context of the organization; and
• Evaluate the continued effectiveness of the management system regard to achieving your objectives; ensure continuing operational control.

During the closing program, Mushtaq presented his observations and suggestions for improvement.  

As for his part, President Jaime I. Manuel, Jr. extended his appreciation to Mushtaq for helping DMMMSU ‘navigate in our ISO journey’. Also, Dr. Estrella N. Perez, VP for Administration and Quality Management Representative, thanked Mushtaq for his suggestions for the continual improvement of the University.

DMMMSU’s ISO journey began in January 2020, when all process owners started with their onerous preparations for the ISO 9001:2015 Certification. On November 19, 2020 the University Quality Management System was certified by ACS W3 Solutionz as conforming to the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 in respect to provision of Instruction, Research, Extension, and Support Services. The ISO 9001:2015 Certificate (No. 20.67.PH112906.00) originally approved on November 19, 2020 was issued on November 29, 2020. Overall, 24 processes were audited.

The 1st Surveillance Audit, on the other hand, was conducted on November 8-12, 2021 and the certificate attesting that the University QMS conforms to the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 (No. 20.67.PH112906.01) was issued on November 29, 2021. (Ayu)

Photo credits : Prof. Rodolfo Nillo