Improved FM services coming as Global PFI earns recognition for quality mgt systems
Consumers of facilities management (FM) services in Nigeria have been assured of enhanced service delivery coming from the recognition and certification of Global Property and Facilities International (Global PFI) Limited for its quality management systems.
Close industry watchers say this feat which does not come cheap or easy, signposts good things to come from the FM industry such as quality service, commitment to global standards and best practice.
After working assiduously for this recognition, Global PFI, a relatively young player in the Nigerian real estate and facilities management industry, attained the ISO 9001: 2015 Certification, making it one of the very few to attain this certification in Nigeria and, indeed, Africa.
Like every other organisation, Global PFI went for this certification for some reasons. “We decide to implement a quality management system which led to the award of the ISO 9001: 2015 certification because we want to be the best in everything we do, for everybody we do it for and everywhere we go; it is also for us to achieve our vision and mission”, explained MKO Balogun, the company’s MD/CEO, at the presentation of the certificate in Lagos recently.
Balogun observed that the journey to getting to that point was long, due to changes the company underwent, but it was worth all the time, resources and energy put into it. He advised that implementing quality systems should be a norm for every organisation that desires to deliver agreed stakeholder expectations, while remaining in business for the long haul and achieve sustainable growth.
With a mission to consistently offer sustainability-driven world class real estate solutions, the company had to implement a global quality management system, focusing on their quality policy and objectives which include provision of quality property and facility management solutions, understanding the context of their business environment including needs and expectations of interested parties.
Others are compliance to relevant applicable (customer, statutory and regulatory) requirements, and effective implementation of policies, quality objectives and processes which are in line with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 quality management system.
The decision of the management of Global PFI to establish, document and implement its quality management system in compliance with the requirements of the international practices and requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 has been described as a bold one.
But Adenike Akinbote, Systems Certification Manager at Bureau Veritas Nigeria Limited, who represented the international organisation that certified Global PFI, noted that the ISO 9001:2015 reference standard was the foundation for the organisation’s quality system and it ensured a strong basis for continual improvement, business growth and efficiency.
She said that ISO 9001 was also a good foundation for implementing many other management standards, such as ISO 14001 for environmental management and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety. “We hope that the top management will also look in this direction to certify the company to these other standards”, she advised.
Akinbote disclosed that the certification had some benefits such as a proof that the company’s quality system complies with internationally recognised standard and best global practices, enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty, assurance of conformance to applicable Legal and other requirements and marketing edge and positioning.
Other benefits are increased profitability as sales revenue will increases, improved internal processes, improved morale and staff motivation, and, most assuredly, being a powerful tool that creates a continual improvement in process and culture.