More Companies Urged to get Certified

More local manufacturing companies are being encouraged to get certified, so that their goods can meet international standards.

“We are convinced that manufacturing has a huge role to play in the future of this country, and international standards and certification are major pillars in going forward,” says Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda.

In a message read by Director General in the Ministry, Vivian Brown, at the presentation of ISO 9001:2008 Certification to P.A. Benjamin Manufacturing Company Limited by the National Certification Body of Jamaica at the Bureau of Standards, in Kingston, today (September 2), Mr. Samuda said the Ministry and its principal agents and departments commit to continue working and collaborating with manufacturing companies to plot a way forward in this regard.

He further noted that the Ministry is committed to the ISO certification process through the National Certification Body of Jamaica.

Mr. Samuda commended P.A. Benjamin Manufacturing Company Limited on their ISO 9001:2008 certification, pointing out that it signals a significant move for the organisation, which is one of the oldest manufacturing companies in Jamaica.

“With ISO 9001:2008 certification you have placed yourself among the leaders of this world in this industry,” he said.

The Minister said it is crucial that the country’s trading partners have confidence in the goods and services produced in Jamaica, adding that certification of internationally recognised standards are a major confidence boost for suppliers and consumers.

Meanwhile, Chairman, P.A. Benjamin Manufacturing Company Limited, Errol Powell, said the company will continue to place the highest priority on achieving excellence and high-quality products.

He informed that the current certification of ISO 9001:2008 is not the first ISO certification for the company, noting that the entity was among the pioneering ones that were ISO certified in 2002 by Canadian company QMI.

“While certification is for a prescribed period and the previous certification expired, our processes, systems and practices have always been governed by a Quality Management System. This is what facilitated us producing goods of the highest quality on a consistent and sustained basis,” he added.

He said ISO processes will be utilised in the expansion of the company’s plant and doubling of its productive capacity.

For her part, Manager, National Certification Body of Jamaica, Michelle Sturridge, said certification covers the design, development and manufacture of pharmaceuticals; personal care, cough and cold, infant care, bath and body-care products; flavourings and colourings; and  laundry and household cleaning products.

She encouraged the company to continue working hard to ensure that the management system remains robust and consistently conforms to the requirements of ISO 9001.

P.A. Benjamin was awarded a certificate of conformity to the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems on July 18, 2016.