Major cement plants aim for much coveted standard certification

Local cement companies have started making waves in the Asean region as local plants lead the way in obtaining the much coveted international standard certifications.

Cement Manufacturing Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) president Felix Enrico R. Alfiler said that all major cement plants are fully certified in all critical aspects of international standards and are even exploring new trends in achieving excellence.

He said that in the Asean region, the cement plants in the Philippines holds the distinction of being ahead in the standards department.

"All major plants are already holders of three different sets of standard certifications, all of which require incessant upgrades while others are gunning for the comprehensive, quintessential standard certification from the ISO referred to as ‘Integrated Management Systems’" Alfiler said.

Certification International Philippines (CIP) managing director Renato Navarette said achieving the three important certification through an Integrated Management System means a more comprehensive control over the way the cement companies work to achieve its business performance objectives.

Significant capital and manpower resources are invested by companies to retool systems and practices, that result in a ‘win-win’ situation because all the effort creates a better world for everyone concerned.

"While local cement companies are increasingly becoming successful in their operations, it is not at the expense of the stakeholders like the communities and employees as they are guided by international systems on quality, environment and health and safety management," Navarette said.

Navarette said that although he believes most cement companies in the Asian region also have certification, he is "not sure if it is as wide as the IMS seal achieved by some local cement companies," he added.

Integrated Management Systems consolidates three very difficult aspects of manufacturing excellence, namely, quality (ISO 9001), environment management (ISO 140001), and health and safety (OHSAS 18001). The practice is not only more cost-effective, it also creates a total corporate culture of excellence and corporate responsibility.

So far, Union Cement in Norzagaray and Iligan Cement has already achieved the Integrated Management certification. Fortune Cement holds all three ISO certifications while gunning for new opportunities. Solid Cement and Apo Cement have completed all three certifications some time ago and continue making considerable improvements beyond those required for certification purposes.

Most of the other cement plants have diligently updated their existing standard certifications, far exceeding whatever efforts of rival plants in the Asian region may be pursuing, Alfiler said. Alfiler also represents the Philippine cement industry in regional cement meetings.

Alfiler said that the incessant pursuit for achieving standards among cement plants have already developed a culture of holistic excellence which impacts significantly in the country’s drive towards creating competitive industries that help uplift the way Filipinos work, manage and run businesses.