AMO renews ISO 9001:2000 certification for operations

AMO renews ISO 9001:2000 certification for operations

American Maritime Officers renewed its ISO certification and maintains its status as the only union in the U.S. with ISO 9001:2000 certification.

Following a series of external audits of union operations, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) issued a five-year renewal of the certification under the International Organization of Standardization.

The ABS audits gauge the quality, efficiency and consistency of operational procedures and ensure they conform to ISO standards. Operations and procedures at the port offices of Dania Beach, Fla., Toledo, Ohio, Philadelphia, Pa., and Washington, D.C., were audited and certified.

Many AMO-contracted vessel management companies, as well as other maritime industry companies, operate under the ISO system.

AMO implemented its quality system for union operations to establish structured and documented procedures for conducting core functions, including dispatching, contracting, grievance processing, recruiting and membership representation. The AMO quality system also ensures there are measures in place to provide actionable feedback, which allows the union to improve and enhance its service to the membership and to contracted employers.

Based on its quality system, AMO has implemented the following improvements to union operations to date:

Enhancement of dispatching system to streamline the process, provide Internet access to job dispatching for members, ensure shipping rules and employer requirements are met and minimize errors
Establishment of a Compliance and Efficiency Committee to monitor and verify that union business is conducted transparently and ethically at all times
Consolidation of a strictly controlled accounting system and purchasing department in one office for all AMO ports
Focused recruiting to ensure AMO's continued growth and status as the largest U.S. maritime officers' union
Employment of additional personnel and resources to enhance:
1. Membership service (AMO Member Services Coordinator appointed)
2. Membership representation
3. Contract negotiation
4. Legislative efforts on the national level

The AMO quality directors are: John Hafner (deep sea), Don Cree (Great Lakes) and Bob Kiefer (inland waters).

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