Emirates Petroleum Products Company (Eppco) LLC took another significant step towards operational excellence when its Aviation Business Unit achieved ISO9001:2000 certification for its quality management system at Dubai International Airport.

The award followed an independent review by Lloyds Register of Quality Assurance (LRQA).
Eppco’s ‘into plane’ operation at Dubai International is the first to be certified to ISO9001:2000 and is now uniquely positioned as it also maintains an environmental management system that complies with ISO 14001:1996.

“By the end of 2003 we will have developed our quality systems and extended the certification to other business and support units, and by the end of 2004, the whole of our operation, including the retail network, will meet the demanding requirement of this standard,” said Hussain Sultan, group chief executive and board member, Enoc.
Eppco Aviation currently supplies fuel to 40 per cent of the traffic at Dubai International Airport.

Zaid Alqufaidi, deputy chief operating officer of Eppco’s Aviation and Fuel Operations’ Business Unit, said the company had the most demanding customers, driving it to tread an improvement path.

The ISO 9001:2000 quality standard differs from earlier ISO versions in that it requires businesses to identify customer needs and build the processes to meet them.
“ISO9001:2000 also incorporates a feature that is good both for companies and their customers - a mandatory requirement to continually improve,” said Tony Muncer, LRQA’s area manager for the Middle East and Africa.