China or Kalundbourg, Denmark-Novozymes certification is the same
The production of Novozymes in China is to live up to the same standard as the production in Brazil and Kalundborg. The global company therefore operates a quality management system that applies to all its production and research sites and its many sales offices around the world - all certificate holders, of course. The Danish Standards Association is responsible for ensuring that all sites from China to Kalundborg are audited in a uniform manner, due consideration being given to local culture and language.
By Danish standards, Novozymes is a large company. The company operates globally and has over 3700 employees in more than 25 different countries. All employees are involved in research over production to sale of Novozymes' products that primarily include enzymes; and they all have to work in conformity with the same guidelines to secure a uniform product.
"To us Brazil is no different than Kalundborg," explains Nomi Skovgaard, Senior Manager at Novozymes and responsible for the Novozymes Quality Management System.
"An enzyme product produced in Brazil is to be produced in the same quality and according to the same guidelines as a product produced e.g. in China - using the same recipe, so to speak," says Nomi Skovgaard. "And our analyses are always made according to the same methods of analysis. This is what we use our quality management system for, which also includes an environmental management system," she says.
Enzymes are used e.g. in washing powders (picture text)
Global consideration on local conditions
Novozymes considers Danish Standards Association to be a strategic business partner. Being a global company, it is important for Novozymes to have a globally oriented business partner. This is what DS is able to offer through the IQNet certification network that operates in a large number of countries. The audits of Novozymes in the different countries are conducted as a joint effort undertaken by DS and the DS-IQNet partners - allowing global consideration to be given on local conditions.
The quality management system of Novozymes is, of course, mainly in English, but it includes instructions at the local production sites in the local language. "Our employees e.g. in Brazil are very comfortable with the fact that audits are performed by the national certification body, FCAV, in Portuguese. It makes me feel very assured that a local DS business partner is coming here to conduct the audit," says Nomi Skovgaard and continues, "I do not believe that DS alone - and in a reliable way - would be able to cover all the languages we use."
Danish Standards Association administers the many audits
Danish Standards Association has signed a contract with Novozymes which ensures global coverage of Novozymes. It is Danish Standards Association that administers the many audits performed at Novozymes sites around the world.
Novozymes has a contact person at Danish Standards Association. It is the lead auditor who audits Novozymes in Denmark and also regularly participates in audits around the world. "It is good service to us that we are always ensured the same expertise, the same contact person, the same approach by those who have accumulated such extensive knowledge of our company," says Nomi Skovgaard.
"We really feel that we get the service we need. But naturally blemishes do occur. When you cooperate with a company of our geographical and organisational complexity," says Nomi Skovgaard, "the administration of our many audits will inevitably give rise to slight mishaps now and then. It has occurred that Danish Standards Association did not deliver the certificate as soon as we would have liked it, e.g. after an audit in China."
Naturally, Novozymes regularly takes the cooperation with Danish Standards Association up for consideration. "We do that with all our suppliers," says Nomi Skovgaard. "And each time it is to the advantage of Danish Standards Association. The most important thing to us is trust between the auditor and us - trust which must be based on a heartfelt understanding of our global company. And a will to adapt audits so that they add real value to our company."
Visit the homepage of Novozymes www.nonozymes.com or the Danish Standards Association www.ds.dk
For further information, please contact
Ms Helle Saaby
Development Manager
DS - Danish Standards Association
Kollegievej 6, DK-2920 Charlottenlund,
Tlf: +45 39 96 61 01 - hes@ds.dk.
