is the online magazine of BSI Group, highlighting the vital role that standards play in today's business environment by helping organizations improve quality, save money, reduce risk and be more sustainable. Features include interviews with leading business figures, as well as news on the latest developments in management systems, standards, testing, healthcare and certification.
A South American success story
23 May 2007
Topics: Integrated mgt, PAS 99, Brazil, Americas
Following five years of "excellent services" at four of its plants, South American company Votorantim Metals has expanded its contract with BSI Brazil, to cover an additional five plants taking the total to nine industrial plants as well as the company's head-office. Under the new contract, BSI Brazil is working with Votorantim to extend its certification in ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 to all the additional plants. In March 2007, BSI Brazil performed audits to transfer four of these plants to BSI registration.
At the same time, management systems training will be introduced for more than 100 auditors and the BSI BenchMark tool will be used to measure the performance of Votorantim's quality management system. The company is also considering an Integrated Management System, based on PAS 99, in order to bring together the various standards currently in place.
Votorantim has a long and industrious history in the region. In 1918, in São Paulo, Portuguese immigrant Antonio Pereira Ignacio took over the Fábrica de Fiação e Tecelagem (Spinning and Weaving Mill) in Votorantim (a small district at the time), Sorocaba, and Sociedade Anonyma Fabrica Votorantim was born.
The Votorantim Group remains a family-controlled company, now in its third generation. It is present in 20 South American states and over 100 Brazilian municipalities, with units in ten countries. It employs over 30,000 people, with operations in cement and concrete, mining and metallurgy (aluminium, steel, nickel and zinc), paper and pulp, concentrated orange juice, chemical specialty markets, in self-generation of electric power and in the financial sector. Together, these businesses resulted in a net profit of R$2.6bn in 2005 (USD$1.34bn).
In 2001, the group began to grow internationally, and today, the cement, metals, paper and pulp, agro-industry and financial services business units have a presence in many different countries.
"Votorantim Metals chose to work with BSI due to the excellent services we have provided for four of its plants during the last five years," explains Cid Vieira, sales director, BSI Brazil. "BSI has eight offices in the country, employing 20 commercial personnel and 60 qualified auditors - all of which gave Votorantim the confidence to take this decision. All of Votorantim Metals's requirements, as spelled out during our technical and commercial negotiations, were accommodated and included in the plans going forward, confirming our capability to achieve all of our clients' expectations.
"Votorantim Metals is extending its business within Latin America and North America, and BSI will help in these efforts wherever possible.
"The company believes that implementing an integrated management system would be of strategic benefit to its business," explains Vieira. "The BSI brand gives Votorantim the certainty that it will have value added to its management systems. For BSI, this contract represents great visibility and credibility within the market, and reflects our ability to offer ongoing certification help to a world-class business company." For more information, visit:www.bsibrasil.com.br/
Business Standards © 2010. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with The British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
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