SLC RAIL CASE STUDY

Alcumus ISOQAR was invited, along with two other Certification Bodies, to quote for recertification of their existing ISO 9001 Quality Managements System in addition to adding ISO 14001 Environmental and ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety to create a true integrated management system for SLC Rail. Working with their health and safety strategic partners, Gateway Consultants, SLC chose Alcumus ISOQAR based on their reputation and professionalism to be their certification body.


At the core of SLC’s integrated management system sat a bespoke online IMS Document Centre within their intranet. This system was designed and created with the user experience at the forefront, making it easy for colleagues to find exactly the right documentation they required with confidence that it was the correct version and to ensure consistency. The online system is extremely simple to navigate displaying core categories of documentation such as: Project Management, Business Risk & Continuity, Communication and Evaluation & Improvement to name but a few.

A huge part of the project was the overhaul and review of all existing documentation, to identify where there were gaps and which documents no longer reflected SLC’s current procedures and therefore needed updating. Suzanne Page, Rail Industry Interface & Development Specialist at SLC Rail identified ‘Champions’ from around the business to feed in their expertise in specific areas to ensure all new documentation was precise and correct. Having these Champions onboard also helped with the buy-in to the project from the wider business units and to drive successful implementation.

The other key factor to the success of the project was the communications strategy which drip fed small pockets of information promoting the new IMS on their online portal over a period of time to generate awareness and curiosity leading up to its launch. This made the launch of the new online management system far easier with colleagues already having a good idea of what was coming and the benefits it will bring. This was made all the more effective by having Champions from across the business contributing to it.

Alcumus ISOQAR Lead Auditor Alex Misovicova commented: this was a very impressive integrated management system and well implemented and will pay dividends to SLC Rail.

This approach to the launch helped colleagues understand that to build on the success of this new management system, they all had a part to play by feeding in suggestions for improvements. This was supported from the top with senior leaders at SLC Rail making it clear how important this was for the business and providing people with space to learn about the new management system. Soon after launch, the project team carried out a number of reviews generating 51 continuous improvements, a testament that this project was certainly not just a tick the box exercise.

Ian Walters, Managing Director of SLC Rail said:

“We’re delighted to have received this recognition for our commitment to quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems. Receiving these certifications is a testament to the work put in by everyone across the organisation to consistently implement our procedures and processes and look for ways to continuously improve.”

A survey was also completed with overwhelming feedback from colleagues throughout the business saying how great it was to have everything in one place, that the system saves time, making it quick to find what they were looking through via the built-in search functionality and that it also helps share best practices throughout the business.

SLC Rail is on a journey and one of the key elements is to demonstrate their professionalism, commitment and pedigree in the marketplace. They believe this integrated management systems says a lot about themselves, how they are perceived in the industry and their mindset in how they’ll operate going forward. The company would definitely recommend that if you are at a similar point in your maturity then getting certified is a great idea.

Dr Shelley Stiles of Gateway Consultants said: “It’s been great to be part of SLC’s journey and witness across the business a passion for achieving the highest possible standards.  It’s fantastic to see a company with a desire to continuously improve itself for the betterment of the business and its clients.”