As an optimistic sun breaks through this great COVID winter, the eastern seaboard rubs up against the magical 70% 'freedom date', kids (parents moreover) eye off a return to school, and the prospect of international travel dangles deliciously within reach, it feels like we are almost there doesn't it? Time to celebrate right?!  You're damn right it is! And here at PCE, we've started the party early, achieving certification of our Integrated Management System (IMS), and marking our 18th year - our coming of age - with far more than a novelty card and a trip to the pub. For our birthday, we are building a great business, around a great team - and now - supported by great management systems.   

So what is an Integrated Management System (IMS)? 

PAS99:2012 Specification of common management system requirements as a framework for integration was developed to assist organisations - like PCE - to integrate the common requirements off all of our management system standards and specifications, and manage them effectively.  The standard has helped PCE to -

• Improve the strategic focus of our business and our people;
• Deconflict management systems by reducing duplication and bureaucracy;
• Develop a more wholistic approach to managing business risk; and
• Streamline design and development activities and conduct more effective conformity assessments.

PAS99 is intended for use by organisations who are implementing the requirements of two or more system standards.

In the case of PCE, there are 3: 

ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems

The quintessential quality standard, ISO 9001 specifies requirements for quality management systems (QMS) when an organisation needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet all customer, statutory and regulatory requirements. The standard also seeks to enhance customer satisfaction through effective application of the QMS, continual process improvement and quality assurance.  

What does a certified QMS mean for PCE and our clients?

• The ability to consistently provide design services that meet (preferably exceed, let's be honest) customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements (we are your engineering partner of choice);
• Facilitate opportunities to monitor, address and ultimately, enhance customer satisfaction (building long term, high value relationships);
• The ability to effectively address risks and opportunities associated with our engineering designs, power system studies, and project management activities (delivering quality, pragmatic solutions);
• Provide clear and structured personnel development pathways for our people (building engineering expertise & creating meaningful careers); and
• Demonstrates conformity to QMS requirements.

And, just in case you were wondering, having read this far down and feeling thoroughly engaged in our success, the items in brackets are extracts from our purpose statement. We pride ourselves on pragmatism and seek to make these systems and standards work for us, not against us, so linking it all back to 'our why' is really important! 

ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems

ISO 14001 specifies the requirements for an Environmental Management System (EMS), and is the bible for any organisation looking to enhance its environmental performance. The standard provides a framework for environmental protection and assists organisations to respond to ever changing environmental conditions and socio-economic factors. 

What does a certified EMS mean for PCE and our clients?

• Provides management with the tools to prevent or mitigate adverse environmental impacts, both within the office-based (design) environment, and whilst on site, serving our clients;
• Influences product and service design through a lifecycle lens (design, construction, operation and disposal), aiding to prevent environmental impacts being unintentionally shifted elsewhere within the lifecycle;
• Facilitate fulfilment of compliance obligations including communicating important environmental information to relevant stakeholders (both internal and external to PCE); and
• Demonstrates conformity to EMS requirements. 

Because ultimately, we care about the environment we live and work in, professionally contribute to and manage for future generations of PCE engineers and their families. 

ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems 

ISO 45001 specifies requirements for an Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OH&SMS), to enable organisations to provide a safe and healthy workplace, prevent work-related injury and ill health and improve OH&S performance. The standards assists organisations to improve safety, eliminate hazards, minimise risks, and address OH&S opportunities associated with it's activities. 

What does a certified OH&SMS mean for PCE and our clients?

•  The ability to effectively and consistently address risks and opportunities associated with our engineering designs, power system studies, and project management activities;
• Prevent work-related injuries and ill health to our people, and provide a healthy, fun and functional workplace;
• Facilitate fulfilment of compliance, legal and other OH&S obligations, including consultation with our people and our clients; and
• Demonstrates conformity to OH&SMS requirements. 

And, most important of all, solidifies our commitment to safely sending our engineers and managers home to their families, each and every day. 

Kudos and Thanks

In addition to the kudo's I would like to extend to the IMS Tiger Group who helped implement these systems at PCE (you know who you are). I would also like to thank Clare Newton from the Australian Government's Entrepreneurs Programme who, through their Growth Service, helped PCE secure a Growth Grant which partly funded the implementation of this IMS.  PCE greatly appreciated the recognition and support provided by this initiative, thank you Clare!