As economic conditions start to improve, Westmeath companies, like many other businesses across Ireland, are seeing the benefit of investing in standards, says NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland ), who have announced registration numbers to a range of standards including quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety. The figures show that over twenty-eight Westmeath based companies are registered to NSAI standards, as they aim to increase their competitive advantage and thrive in key industries.
“Today’s figures show that local Westmeath companies see the real benefit in standards and as a result of that benefit they are investing in standards for the future of their businesses. Standards are not always noticeable in everyday life but they are there in the background from the medical devices used in hospitals to the car seat you set-up for the school run,” said Maurice Buckley, CEO, NSAI.
Standards are applied by businesses of all sizes and just some of the Westmeath based companies registered to NSAI standards include: Mergon, who are registered to Environmental Management Systems standard (ISO 14001 ), Shay Murtagh Precast Ltd, who are registered to Quality Management Systems standard (ISO 9001 ) and Lagan Cement Ltd, who are certified to the Concrete standard (IS EN 206-1 ).
The most popular standards for Westmeath companies include:
· Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001 ), with more than nine Westmeath-based companies registered to the standard
· Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001 ) with four Westmeath-based companies certified to the standard
· Concrete (IS EN 206-1 ) with four Westmeath based companies certified to the standard
“It’s great to see that Westmeath companies are taking advantage of the wide range of standards available, from Quality Management Systems, which is a system for minimising risk and maximising opportunity, to Environmental Management Systems, which help organisations identify, manage and control activities that have an environmental impact. More and more SMEs are seeing that without adopting some of the recognised standards for their sector, they are excluded from markets and opportunities, they are losing business, they are limiting growth – and potentially, risking the survival of their business. Standards help grow your business. They help your company to live longer,” said Maurice Buckley.
In 2013, NSAI expanded the scope of its accredited certification to include its OHSAS 18001 Health & Safety certification service by INAB (Irish National Accreditation Board ), consolidating its position as a global provider of certification services. The additional accreditation means that NSAI now has global recognition to the top five management standards in the world.
2013 saw NSAI publish over 1,600 standards bringing their library to in excess of 23,000 with over 12,000 publications sold across a broad range of sectors in the same period. NSAI expects to publish another 1,500 standards in 2013 with many of these being relevant for Westmeath-based companies. NSAI invites members of the business community and the general public to get involved in the development of standards by visiting Your Standards, Your Say on www.nsai.ie
