IT WAS about two decades ago when I first noticed the ISO markings bannered on the facades and gates of factories and plants that we visited in Bangkok, Thailand when our civic organization had a benchmarking and educational tour as part of our teambuilding activity.
Towards 2010, my office embarked on a quality management system (QMS) or ISO 9001:2008 which is focused on consistently meeting customer requirements and satisfaction level aligned with an organization's goal and policy direction following a clause called PDCA or plan, do, check and act.
Last year, we adapted the analytical risk-based thinking which placed us to ISO 9001:2015 and we are now using risk analysis in order for us to decide for our business processes which is also prevents from doing other redundant functions.
As the information officer of my agency, I have set an online digital folder that I can share to members of my organization patterned from the “message house” of our Manila based head office. New items from said message house carries news on the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards stating that DTI-BPS approved the adoption of the International Standard (IS) on Guidelines for Management Consultancy Services, as a Philippine National Standard (PNS) - International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 20700:2018, through the fast track method.
Accordingly, the PNS ISO 20700:2018 provides guidelines for the effective delivery of management consultancy services, and aims to help management consultancy service providers and their clients improve transparency and understanding of their consultancy assignments, in order to achieve better results. In addition, it emphasizes the importance of understanding the clients’ needs and contributes to enhancing good governance and professional practices when providing consulting or technical assistance services.
The PNS ISO 20700:2018 is applicable to all management consultancy service providers including government and non-government organizations. While focusing on the importance of understanding and meeting client’s needs, this PNS gives an opportunity to management consultancy service providers to protect their innovation and differentiation services.
DTI-BPS Director Engr. James Empeño also emphasized that PNS ISO 20700:2018 enables the management consultancy service providers to reduce risk in management consultancy assignments and provide better value to its clients.
In a related development, the DTI-BPS calls the attention of commercial training providers to cease reproducing, digitally or in print, copies of standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standards and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), including Philippine National Standards (PNS) as such practice constitutes copyright infringement. The DTI-BPS as the National Standards Body and the Philippines’ official member representative to the ISO is the only authorized distributor of PNS, ISO and IEC standards in the country.
The DTI also reminds local users of PNS, ISO and IEC standards that the provisions of RA No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code (IPC) also apply to creations or works that are protected by virtue of and in accordance with any international convention or other international agreement to which the Philippines is a party.
DTI–Consumer Protection Group (CPG) undersecretary Ruth Castelo explained that the country’s membership to the ISO and IEC entails an obligation to protect copyright as embodied in the policies of these international standardization organizations. The DTI cautions erring individuals and businesses that the Department, through the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), will not hesitate to take legal action if copyright offenses are found to be committed the undersecretary warned.
During his two-day visit to the country for the Philippines- ISO Dialogues, ISO Secretary General Sergio Mujica talked about a sound and effective National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) that must be developed to expand and enter the international markets. Through the DTI-BPS, Mr. Mujica met with Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship and Congressman Ferjenel Biron, M.D., Chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Industry to discuss the relevance and benefits of the proposed National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) in the country.
The DTI-BPS news release states that Mr. Mujica also intends to build a culture of quality through provisions of a sound and effective framework which allows the development and compliance with increasing quality requirements and supports the national authorities in their mandates on industry competitiveness, free trade, consumer protection, and environment protection. The ISO Sec Gen stresses “The culture of quality must always be a top priority for local manufacturers.”