Bahrain’s leading digital communications provider Batelco said it has become the first telecommunications company in the Middle East to be awarded with ISO 9001:2015 certification from the BSI Group (British Standards Institution).

The company successfully completed the certification audit to the newly revised ISO 9001:2015 Standard on March 30 surpassing the internationally agreed three-year transition period.

Formed in 1901, BSI was the world’s first National Standards Body and, over 100 years later is globally recognized as the champion of best practice.

In addition to being the first telecom company in the Middle East to receive the certification, Batelco has the honour of being the first company in Bahrain to achieve this standard, it stated.

The ISO 9001:2015 certificate was presented to Batelco Bahrain chief executive Muna Al Hashemi by BSI Middle East and Africa regional managing director Theuns Kotze at a ceremony held at Batelco’s headquarters in Hamala recently.

A number of Batelco executives and officials who were instrumental in completing the ISO process were in attendance.

The British Standards Institution which shaped the original Quality Management Standard that became ISO 9001 has worked with Batelco since 1996, helping the organisation to embed the standard to cover all business units of Batelco and achieve sustainable performance improvements.

ISO 9001 was originally written with the customer in mind and that remains the priority for ISO 9001:2015; this is in line with the strategy adopted by Batelco which addressed each layer of the organisation towards Superior Customer Centricity, said the telco in its statement.

Al Hashemi said that Batelco was really delighted to be the first telecommunications company in the Middle East and the first company in Bahrain to achieve certification to ISO 9001:2015.

“I extend my appreciation to all our staff who worked so diligently to reach this notable achievement which makes us very proud,” she added.

The ISO 9001 Quality Management System, the world’s most popular management system standard, is used by over one million organisations around the world.

Batelco general manager (HR & Corporate Services) Suhaila Alnowakhda said the recognised Quality Management System helps organisations to run more efficiently and profitably by providing a framework for consistent performance, reliable service and long-term continuous improvement.

"Quality has always been at the heart of Batelco, and this certification is another successful step towards an efficient QMS that improves efficiency and ultimately improves customer satisfaction. Batelco has achieved this by combining the process approach with risk-based thinking, and employing the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle at all levels,” she added.

Lauding the Bahraini group, Kotze said that ISO 9001 outlines ways to achieve, as well as benchmark consistent performance and service, by putting in place processes that allow companies to improve the way they operate at all levels and place the needs of its customers as a priority.

“This certification is evidence of Batelco’s continuous effort and commitment to best practices. I would like to congratulate the entire project team, senior management and all staff members who were involved in this project,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service