Zero Non-Conformity Report (NCR) and only one Opportunity for Improvement (OFI) were recorded during the SIRIM QAS MS ISO 9001: 2015 Surveillance Audit exercise. This notable achievement will pave the way for Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) to be re-certified next year.

The three-day surveillance audit exercise was led by Madam Hanida Ghazali along with Maznah Mat Isa. Two Schools and several Centres of Authority (PTJ), including the School of Business Management (SBM), the School of Government (SOG), the Institute for Quality Management (IPQ), Bursar Department, Registrar Department, Academic Affairs Department, Development and Maintenance Department (JPP), RIMC, U-Assist, CeTMA, UTLC, UECSB and the Risk Management Unit were involved in this audit exercise.

The Senior Auditor of SIRIM QAS, Madam Hanida Ghazali said, the ISO 9001: 2015 certification received by UUM will expire in 2019 and the re-certification audit will be carried out next year before it expires.

According to her, the surveillance audit helps to determine the ongoing compliance of the customer's quality management system to the ISO 9001: 2015 standard.

"The results of the three-day monitoring audit found that, zero NCR non-compliance was recorded, however there was only one opportunity for improvement (OFI).

"I also found that there was a drastic drop in OFI after this surveillance audit was completed and this is certainly an impressive achievement, but on-going improvements in the quality management systems should be done continuously," he said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dr. Ayoib Che Ahmad said, the audit exercise was conducted to ensure that all processes and procedures comply with the ISO 9001: 2015 standard achieved by UUM last year.

“All suggestions and recommendations will be used as the parameters to improve the work processes in UUM and I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the denizens of UUM for their cooperation and efforts to ensure that the audit exercise ran smoothly," said Professor Dr. Ayoib during the closing ceremony of the SIRIM QAS MS ISO 9001: 2015 Surveillance Audit at the Senate Meeting Room, yesterday.

UUM received the first ISO 9001: 2008 certification, followed by the second certification in 2013 and UUM obtained the ISO 9001: 2015 certification last year.