Prior to this was a technical assessment conducted by Mary Grace Balobalo, lead auditor of TÜV Rheinland, which evaluated the readiness of the center for the audit.
“We then came up with recommendations and opportunities for improvement to ensure the continuous improvement of the center’s QMS,” Balobalo said.
Vicenta Canatoy, DA-PCC at CMU’s quality management representative, said the virtual audit, which is the “new normal” to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19, takes up only 50 percent of the total audit time. An on-site audit will still be conducted as soon as the quarantine protocols ease up.
“Ideally, office-based processes are likely to be more suitable for remote audit while production or laboratory processes would suit for on-site audit,” Canatoy added.
“If our certification will be renewed, it will give the center a competitive advantage in terms of the products and services it offers to its various clienteles,” Dr. Elena Paraguas, DA-PCC at CMU’s lead auditor, said.
Dr. Paraguas emphasized that a renewal of certification will prove that the center is able to sustain a strong quality management system and that its human resource has a sound understanding of its processes and how to effectively and efficiently carry them out.
“We will not only be able to prove that our processes are documented but that the system is effectively working,” Mary Fe Montaño, document control officer, added.
TÜV Rheinland is an independent expert on inspection services for quality and safety for people, technology and the environment in nearly all aspects of life.
