SAIC Quality Management registered ISO 9001 compliant

Sea Technology, Apr 1999

Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) announced that its Marine Survey & Systems Operation s (MSSO) Quality Management System has been registered as compliant with the International Standard ISO 9001. Based in Newport, Rhode Island, the MSSO conducts a wide variety of marine surveys including hydrographic and submarine telecommunications cable routes, using state-ofthe-art sensors such as side-scan and multibeam sonars and magnetometers. The MSSO also produces, uses, and sells integrated survey systems to acquire, process, and display survey data.

The ISO 9001 registration process is based on stringent requirements that involve an in-depth and introspective examination of business methodology, products, and processes. To assist in the registration process and to ensure that the international standards were met, the MSSO contracted with the Bureau Veritas Quality International (NA) Inc., a subsidiary of BVQI (SA) headquartered in London. BVQI was formed to respond to the worldwide need for third party assessment of quality management systems and registration of these systems against the ISO 9000 series standards. BVQI (NA) representatives from the northeast regional office in Providence, Rhode Island, will return every six months to re-examine MSSO's progress and consistency during the three-year contract period.

Established in 1947, the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) provides international standards for products and services in all industries except electrical and electronic engineering. ISO publishes International Standards, a series of documents on quality assurance outlining standards for developing Total Quality Management and Quality Improvement Process. ISO 9000 is the general name for the quality standard, initially adopted in 1987. ISO 9001 outlines a model for quality assurance in design, development, production, installation, and servicing. /st/