Lt Cdr Gs. Mohd Khairie bin Hj Hatun RMN, Performance & Integrity Management Officer at the National Hydrographic Centre, Malaysia, took part in the first IC-ENC Secondment of 2025. The secondment program, hosted by The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, was aimed at enhancing skills in QMS’s and to provide intensive, hands-on training for lead auditors in accordance with the ISO 9001:2015 standard.

Khai writes about his experience during the two week secondment.

Week One:

In the first week, I attended the ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training Course conducted by the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI), Bywater which provided an in-depth understanding of the principles and best practices in conducting quality management system audits. This online course was conducted by Mr. Keith Grant at Bywater and was attended by 7 participants from various local companies. Throughout this course, I was exposed to the role of a lead auditor, training individuals to become auditors by understanding the ISO standards used, planning audits, managing risk plans and reporting non-conformities and opportunities for improvement. The course also included practical training, syndicate discussion sessions, a risk-based approach and compliance with international standards such as ISO 19011:2018 and ISO 9001:2015. At the end of the course, I was required to sit for a final exam as a mandatory condition to obtain a lead auditor certificate recognized internationally.

Matt Millard, UKHO Quality & Audit Manager & Secondment Lead & Mohd Khairie bin Hj Hatun

Week Two:

In the second week, the secondment program continued with theoretical experience alongside the Business Assurance team led by UKHO Quality & Audit Manager, Matt Millard. Here, I was briefed and had the opportunity to observe and understand how the team conducts internal audits, monitors compliance with the quality management system, visits each department and the UKHO environment and implements continuous improvement processes, all from a theoretical perspective. Through this activity, I was able to strengthen my understanding of the Quality Management System (QMS) as well as compliance with the international standards implemented. I was also given the opportunity to participate in discussions with the UKHO Business Assurance audit team, which provided valuable exposure to the application of ISO 9001:2015 in quality management at UKHO.

Observations

The UKHO has meticulously implemented ISO 9001:2015 standards across its workflows, emphasizing a culture of continuous improvement and customer-centricity. Notable practices observed included robust risk management processes, systematic internal audits and comprehensive stakeholder engagement mechanisms. Additionally, the use of advanced digital tools for documentation control and process monitoring demonstrated

the effectiveness of integrating technology into quality management. These observations highlighted the importance of structured methodologies in achieving and maintaining compliance with ISO standards.

Learning Outcomes

This program provided an in-depth understanding of the theoretical application of principles related to the implementation of ISO 9001:2015. Key takeaways include strategies for conducting effective internal audits, techniques for identifying and mitigating risks and approaches to improving organizational performance through data-driven decision making. Each department plays its own role in ensuring that the implementation of work instructions at UKHO is in accordance with the established ISO 9001 standards. This experience reinforces the importance of leadership commitment, clear communication and employee involvement in the successful implementation of a QMS.

Conclusion

Participation in the secondment program of UKHO QMS ISO 9001 has provided valuable exposure and experience in the management aspect of the organization's QMS. Thank you to the UKHO Business Assurance Team led by Matt Millard who provided a lot of knowledge and learnings, whilst helping in all aspects of knowledge sharing. Thank you also to Alex Boobyer who helped a lot in managing the documentation.

Following on from this program will be the basis for improving the existing NHC QMS. Overall, this secondment program has achieved its main objective which is as a medium for strengthening knowledge and gaining experience with a respected team like UKHO. The program should be continued in the future.

For more information and to see what secondment opportunities are currently available, please click here.

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