Illinois Department of Transportation Achieves ISO 9001:2000 Registration

Excellence of IDOT Planning and Design processes ensure quality product for taxpayers

Springfield – The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced today it has received international recognition of quality excellence in its process management system for the planning and design of road and bridge improvements. The Department today was formally presented its ISO 9001:2000 Registration certificate from NSF International Strategic Registrations, Ltd. (NSF-ISR).

The ISO 9001:2000 certification, based on standards developed by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO), recognizes IDOT for the quality of key processes involved in and supporting its road and bridge planning and design work.

“We sought ISO certification to demonstrate that IDOT pays attention to detail and provides Illinois taxpayers a quality product,” said Timothy W. Martin, Illinois Secretary of Transportation. “It shows a higher level of accountability, and in order to ensure quality, we bring in outside auditors from the business world to examine our work and certify that we’re meeting international business standards on process management. This registration recognizes that IDOT’s process management system meets the recognized business test for effectiveness and efficiency, along with excellence in areas such as training, communications, customer satisfaction and document control.”

NSF-ISR, an NSF International company, thoroughly assessed the IDOT quality management system and found it to be in compliance with ISO 9001:2000, an international standard that provides a universal baseline for quality process management. This registration will help IDOT maintain quality planning and design throughout the development process and maintain a high level of accountability to the public it serves.

To obtain ISO 9001:2000 certification, the Department has committed to provide the necessary resources to manage and execute its certified processes correctly based on documented customer requirements. IDOT must show evidence during rigorous audits that employees involved in the planning and design of roads and bridges are qualified and proficient in the work they do, that they follow the processes as they are spelled out in IDOT procedural manuals, and that IDOT staff strives to continually improve process efficiency and effectiveness to ensure a quality end product.

“Not only does ISO 9001:2000 registration confirm that all employees involved in the planning and design of roads and bridges were competent in the work they do, but it shows IDOT’s continued commitment as they will be expanding their registration in the future,” said Christian Lupo, general manager, NSF-ISR, a global leader in management system registrations.

In order to maintain the ISO certification, IDOT will be audited internally or externally each quarter over the next two years. IDOT will perform internal audits every six months to make sure the quality management system remains effective, and external auditors will come into the Department every six months as well to verify the system’s continuing effectiveness. The Department also is working toward expanding its ISO certification in the future to include all aspects of planning, design and construction along with support services involving purchasing, training, personnel management and facilities maintenance.

“This certification shows that the men and women of IDOT are dedicated to meeting customer requirements and making sure we do it right, and do it right the first time,” Secretary Martin said. “We are opening our management processes up to the public for scrutiny to guarantee consistency and quality in our roads and bridges.”