Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) has been recognised with the industry’s first worldwide certification for ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental care) and OHSAS 18001 (occupational health & safety). In what it says is a first in the industry, Volvo CE has achieved a worldwide certification complying with ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental care) and OHSAS 18001 (occupational health & safety). This applies to all of the company’s sites – from Arvika to Changwon, Brussels to Curitiba, as well as functions from sales and marketing to technology.

The independent audit was conducted by third party specialist Bureau Veritas, amounting to the equivalent of 167 audit days over the 23 sites inspected. Having now drawn up its conclusions Bureau Veritas has issued three worldwide accredited certificates for all Volvo CE sites and operations covering ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, which will replace the 44 local certificates that existed previously. “Now, with a common certification in place, every single Volvo CE site worldwide has something to benchmark itself against,” says Navin Modi, Delivery Excellence Director for international contracts of Bureau Veritas.

“It is an efficient method of making sure everyone in the organisation is working to the same high standards.” The three standards audited align with Volvo’s core values of quality, safety and environmental care. “Our global certification, covering all three ISO standards, sends out a clear message that Volvo CE is a well aligned organisation worldwide and takes its core values seriously,” said Volvo CE President Pat Olney. “The ability to have – and externally prove – that all sites and functions share the same processes and business requirements is reassuring to both employees and our customers. It gives us a benchmark from which the entire company can consistently improve upon.”