Following IC-ENC Steering Committee 25, a new program was established to facilitate secondments within the Member community. This initiative aims to keep IC-ENC closely aligned with its membership while promoting the exchange of skills, knowledge, and experiences.

The first secondment took place in July 2024 at the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. Captain Hassan EL-Halawany, Head of Hydrographic Division in the Egyptian Navy Hydrographic Department, spent 3 weeks with the Business Assurance team where he focused on Quality Management Systems whilst also participating in an ISO9001 Internal Auditor Training Course, which resulted in gaining a formal accredited qualification as an internal auditor.

A note from Matt Millard, UKHO Quality & Audit Manager & Secondment Lead regarding why hosting this secondment is beneficial to UKHO and his team:

“The UKHO Business Assurance team was pleased to welcome Hassan in July to complete a short secondment opportunity. Upon learning about the IC-ENC Secondment Opportunity Scheme Business Assurance put forward a proposal which would offer someone an excellent opportunity to learn about ISO9001 and be able to develop themselves in the underlying principles and assurance of Quality Management Systems. The benefits are great, ISO9001 is an international standard and we can all learn about how to create, manage and maintain a QMS which supports the supply of high quality products to our customers. Continuous Improvement is a key principle of the standard and hopefully there will be some learning opportunities on the way as well. What’s not to like!”

Comprehensive Training Overview: ISO 9001:2015 Principles and Applications – Hassan’s Experience

Over three weeks in July 2024, I engaged in a rigorous training program focused on the principles of ISO 9001:2015, internal auditing, and advanced quality management systems, hosted at the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO). The exceptional delivery of this training by Matthew Millard, whose expertise and engaging approach greatly enhanced the learning experience, was instrumental in the program's success.

Week 1: Foundation in Quality Management and Auditing

Program Initiation: The training began with Bywater providing an in-depth overview of the ISO 9001:2015 standards. The content quality and execution well beyond my initial expectations, establishing a strong tone for the week.

Auditing Principles: The processes of internal auditing were explained in detail over extensive sessions that covered the audit cycle from planning to reporting. Detailed examples and practical exercises helped to explain the auditing concepts.

Practical Applications: Interactive exercises based on real-life scenarios improved my ability to perform effective audits, highlighting the significance of continual development and follow-up actions.

Leadership and Risk Management: Discussions highlighted the critical role of leadership in fostering a quality-driven culture within an organization. I also explored risk management tools and strategies employed at UKHO, which improved my understanding of their practical application in maintaining a robust QMS.

Infrastructure Insights: A guided tour of the UKHO archives provided a unique perspective on the necessary infrastructure and efforts involved in preserving historical data, underscoring the importance of the quality management processes.

Week 2: Advanced Operations and Strategic Improvements

Operational Excellence: The week began with a thorough assessment of UKHO's infrastructure, focusing on the physical and operational aspects. This review ensured that current setups not only meet ISO standards but also align with environmental sustainability practices.

Customer Service Enhancements: One of the most valuable experiences during my training was observing how UKHO's customer service team actively seeks to enhance their services and ensure that they consistently meet high-quality standards.

Business Assurance: I reviewed the Business Assurance Log, gaining insight into how ongoing compliance issues are tracked and resolved, ensuring continual adherence to quality standards.

Continuous Improvement CI: In-depth discussions on continuous improvement mechanisms provided strategies for addressing non-conformities and enhancing operational efficiency.

Week 3: External Audit Exposure and Quality Assurance Validation

External Audit Observation: Witnessing an external audit offered a practical perspective on the auditing process, showcasing transparency and thoroughness in evaluating IC-ENC’s service integrity and reliability, while ensuring confidentiality of Member information.

Auditor's Insight: Participating as an observer during the audit process allowed me to apply the principles learned during the internal auditor training, enhancing my understanding of efficient and effective auditing practices.

Organizational Impact and Certification Aspirations

Journey Toward Certification: Inspired by the structured approaches and continuous improvement strategies witnessed during the training, my home organization, ENHD, has initiated the process to obtain ISO 9001 certification.

Knowledge Transfer: The insights gained from the interaction with the UKHO’s business assurance manager through in-depth discussions on QMS strategies have equipped me with the necessary tools to lead quality enhancement initiatives at ENHD.

Concluding Reflections

The comprehensive three-week course considerably improved my knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 standards and their application in a professional environment. The knowledge and skills I've received are crucial not only for my personal development, but also for taking ENHD's quality management initiatives forward.

IC-ENC are now working towards evolving the scheme, with a further seven opportunities taking place in 2024, and many more in the pipeline for 2025. If you would like more information regarding this initiative please click here, or alternatively contact alexandra.boobyer@ic-enc.org