QUALITY AT Vale Inco Nouvelle-Calédonie

Vale Inco Nouvelle-Calédonie is demonstrating and implementing a Quality Policy which is included in an integrated QHSE policy  (Quality – Health and Safety – Environment).

Quality Policy

This policy is based on a threefold approach:

1. Quality control of products
2. Quality Management System (QMS)
3. ISO 9001 certification

The human resources necessary for this policy are distributed as follows:

• A quality department whose head answers directly to the General Operations Director
• Quality inspectors at different stages of operations
• A quality analysis laboratory for the end product
• A team of internal auditors
• The involvement of all employees

PRODUCT QUALITY CONTROLS

Why?

Quality controls enable us to ensure that products (intermediary as well as end products) meet the stated requirements of our customers (internal as well as external). 

These controls cover ore exploration, extraction, preparation into slurry, the exploitation process and the end of production.

Who carries out these controls?

The operators of the Mine and the Plant carry out the intermediary controls.
The Laboratory analyses the quality of end products: it delivers a certificate assuring the client of the quality of the delivered product.

What are our finished products?

PDS NiO

PDS CoCO3

 

OUR QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (QMS)

Why?

The implementation of a Quality Management System (QMS) enables Vale Inco Nouvelle-Calédonie to make changes to improve the performance of its processes (related activities).

Flowchart of our processes

How?

The services :

1. Describe their activities & interactions through processes, policies, manuals, procedures and instructions
2. Describe their activities & interactions through processes, policies, manuals, procedures and instructions
3. 3. Set their objectives and monitor the performance indicators for their activity;

The Quality Department :

1. Carries out ISO 9001 audits
2. Coordinates risk management
3. Coordinates performance management
4. Follows up non-compliance, complaints & suggestions
5. Ensures that methods (described in operating documentation) meet ISO 9001 requirements.
6. Ensures documentary controls are in place.

CERTIFICATION OF OUR QMS

Vale Inco Nouvelle-Calédonie has set the objectives of certifying and accrediting the following activities:

System of reference	Parameter	Timescale set
ISO 9001	Refining, production and transportation of end products NiO & CoCO3 (1)	2007 (first quarter)
ISO 17025	Analysis laboratory: programmes 100 and 156  (2)	2009

 

(1) ISO 9001 parameter:

On the plant :

Production, Packaging and Transportation / Distribution of NiO and CoCO3

As well as support services :

Processes, Maintenance, Logistics, Port activities, Human resources, IT, Legal, Communication

(2) ISO 17025 parameter :

The Laboratory’s organisation and methods of analysis meet the requirements of ISO 17025 standard and the programmes water analysis (100) and analysis of sludge and sediment (156).