Based on materials from the official web-site of MMC Norilsk Nickel.

The international audit company BVQI has carried out the first compliance audit of the Quality Management System at MMC Norilsk Nickel’s Polar Division.

The first compliance audit covered Copper Plant, Supply Section, Mining, Metallurgical and Experimental Research Centre as well as some functional divisions in charge of production, engineering, mechanics, industrial automation, procurement and customs regulations, human resources and social policy, administrative development.

The audit has indicated such strong points of the system as competence and high qualification of employees, systematic personnel training, improving personnel motivation; sound production automation and IT development; well-adjusted process control; fast decision-making in handling non-compliant products. The auditors also have their recommendations as for areas where the efficiency of quality management may be improved.

In September 2005 the quality management system of the Polar Division was certified under ISO 9001:2000 with regard to nickel, copper and cobalt production, and accredited in the UK, Netherlands, Germany and the USA. ‘Regular compliance audits are common practice, and they help in the continuous development and improvement of the existing management systems. And besides, it’s a way to prove their viability and efficiency’, said Jacques Rozenberg, deputy CEO and member of the Board of MMC Norilsk Nickel.

According to Vladimir Bondarenko, the leading BVQI auditor, the implemented QMS is functioning under ISO 9001:2000 requirements, with documentation, activities, personnel qualification and equipment compliant to the standard.

The compliance audit of the Integrated Quality and Environmental Management System will be carried out in the Corporate Centre of MMC Norilsk Nickel (Moscow) in June of 2006.