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The ISO 9001:2000 certification, based on standards developed by the
International Organization of Standardization, recognizes the
Department of Transportation for the quality of key processes
involved in and supporting its road and bridge planning and design
work.
"We sought ISO certification to demonstrate that IDOT pays
attention to detail and provides Illinois taxpayers a quality
product," said Timothy W. Martin, Illinois secretary of
transportation. "It shows a higher level of accountability, and in
order to ensure quality, we bring in outside auditors from the
business world to examine our work and certify that we're meeting
international business standards on process management. This
registration recognizes that IDOT's process management system meets
the recognized business test for effectiveness and efficiency, along
with excellence in areas such as training, communications, customer
satisfaction and document control."
NSF International Strategic Registrations, an NSF International
company, thoroughly assessed the Illinois Department's of
Transportation's quality management system and found it to be in
compliance with ISO 9001:2000, an international standard that
provides a universal baseline for quality process management. This
registration will help the department maintain quality planning and
design throughout the development process and maintain a high level
of accountability to the public it serves.
To obtain ISO 9001:2000 certification, the Department of
Transportation has committed to provide the necessary resources to
manage and execute its certified processes correctly, based on
documented customer requirements. The department must show evidence
during rigorous audits that employees involved in the planning and
design of roads and bridges are qualified and proficient in the work
they do, that they follow the processes as they are spelled out in
the department's procedural manuals, and that the department staff
strives to continually improve process efficiency and effectiveness
to ensure a quality end product.
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 "Not only does ISO 9001:2000 registration confirm that all
employees involved in the planning and design of roads and bridges
were competent in the work they do, but it shows IDOT's continued
commitment, as they will be expanding their registration in the
future," said Christian Lupo, general manager of NSF International
Strategic Registrations.
In order to maintain the certification, the Department of
Transportation will be audited internally or externally each quarter
over the next two years. The department will perform internal audits
every six months to make sure the quality management system remains
effective, and external auditors will come into the department every
six months as well to verify the system's continuing effectiveness.
The department also is working toward expanding its certification in
the future to include all aspects of planning, design and
construction, along with support services involving purchasing,
training, personnel management and facilities maintenance.
"This certification shows that the men and women of IDOT are
dedicated to meeting customer requirements and making sure we do it
right, and do it right the first time," Martin said. "We are opening
our management processes up to the public for scrutiny to guarantee
consistency and quality in our roads and bridges."
[Illinois
Department of Transportation news release]
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