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- IVM Marks 13th Anniversary
L-R: MD, Nolie Ventures, Engr. Nwaomy Olujie; Head, Client Management, Management Systems Certification, SON, Mrs. Nene Obianwu; and the Director, Management Systems Certification, SON, Engr. Obiageli Egbuuciem, at Innoson Vehicles 13th anniversary/ISO 9001:2015 certificate presentation in Nnewi 
Chairman of Gabros Group:Director, lnnoson Group, Chief Gabriel Chukwuma (l), and Obinna Chukwuma, at the event
“The ISO 9001:2015 system certification is a demonstration of your Management system’s conformity to internationally acceptable standard requirements and the ability of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Limited to get it right the first time and always.”
It was with these remarks that the Director General/CEO of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, on Tuesday presented ISO 9001:2015 system certificate to the Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies, Dr. Innocent Chukwuman, CON.
In what was obviously his first official assignment since his appointment a few days earlier, the new SON DG, who was represented at the event, announced that with the certification Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd had joined a few privileged class of manufacturers in Nigeria whose production processes have earned the stamp of excellence.
Okeke was represented by the SON Director in charge of the south-east, Engr. Fred Akingbesote.
At the presentation ceremony which also marked the 13th anniversary of the Nnewi plant commissioned by the then President Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday, October 15, 2010, no fewer than 11 workers of the automaker were rewarded for their long service and dedication to duty.
They each received a unit of Innoson motorcycle.
Commitment to top quality standards
Welcoming the SON team and other guests, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Ebele, Chukwuma, had explained that the ceremony was not just an anniversary celebration, but mainly the consummation of his auto company’s commitment to upholding high quality standards in producing vehicles
Chukwuma, whose address was read on his behalf by the Head, Corporate Communications, Cornel Osigwe, remarked: “One of the major accrued benefits we have is the Innoson Vehicles ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System and MANCAP Certificates to Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd by the Standards Organization of Nigeria.
“We have come a long way since our humble beginning in October 2010. Our vision was simple: to provide reliable, durable, and affordable vehicles for Nigerians. And we have stayed true to that vision, with our commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
“I am overjoyed to announce that today we will be receiving the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Certificate as well as the MANCAP Certificates from the Standards Organization of Nigeria.
“This is a testament to our dedication to upholding international standards of quality and excellence in all aspects of our operations. It is also a testament to our dedication in our pursuit of perfection.”
The speech was punctuated by intermittent applauses, especially when the Chairman disclosed that in pursuit of excellence, the auto plant had been upgraded from manual production to semi-automation, and now to standard automation
The result, according Chief Chukwuma, is the increase in IVM’s installed vehicle production capacity from 10,000 vehicles per annum in 2010, to 60,000 vehicles today.
He gave more insight into this later when he hinted that with the present manufacturing capacity, the Nnewi auto plant is now in a stronger position to receive and execute orders for the production of large number of vehicles from both government and the private sector.
The Innoson Group Chairman unveiled more plans, saying “In our pursuit of perfection, we have bought robot painting equipment which when installed will reduce operating costs, increase productivity, and improve product quality leading to higher customer satisfaction.
“In our pursuit of perfection, we have introduced African Specifications in the production of vehicles by introducing the concept of regionalisation in the production of vehicles by making sure that we consider the African environment, local tastes, and consumer preferences in the African region during the production of our vehicles.
“As we celebrate this achievement, I want to express my gratitude; to our passionate and hardworking team, the wonderful and resilient staff of Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing who have made this possible. Their unwavering commitment to excellence is the driving force behind our success.
“To all relevant stakeholders such as the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Standards Organization of Nigeria, National Automotive Design and Development Council – NADDC , Bank of Industry, and the Financial Institutions, thank you for your support and encouragement.
“To our key customers such as Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government, State Governments, private organisations, and individuals, we appreciate you for believing in us and having faith in us. Your patronage is the reason why we are still in business. We promise that we shall keep getting better.”
SON DG: Innoson is very important to Nigeria
Not a few applauded when the new Standards Organisation of Nigeria proclaimed through his representative, Engr. Akingbesote, that Innoson vehicles are “extremely important to Nigeria,” even as he urged other automakers to take a cue from the Nnewi plant.
The SON DG stated, “Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited is being formally presented with a certificate of conformity to the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Standard.
“This milestone achievement in the pursuit of service and product excellence is commendable and worthy of emulation by all organizations in Nigeria.
“This ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System Standard provides you with opportunities and frameworks to satisfy your customers and retain their loyalty for long-term revenue and profitability.
“You can attest to the fact that your ability to formalise your operational system by documenting processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives recommended by the standard has strengthened your process efficiency, organisational culture and regulatory compliance.
” It also has optimised your efforts for continual improvement with the adoption of data for evidence-based decision-making to ensure customer satisfaction.
“The Indigenous Vehicle Manufacturing sector in which your organisation operates is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by ever-changing end-user requirements and global trends.
“These unending changes and global trends bring a host of new opportunities as well as a range of new challenges. The ongoing challenges require you to be creative in your product and service delivery.
“Your service and products are extremely important to Nigeria, especially in the face of the prevailing economic challenges in the country and competitiveness in the market.
“Therefore, adopting a more innovative approach which the ISO 9001:2015 standard provides; will help your organisation navigate through any period of disruption.
“It will also help your organization gain competitive advantage through greater responsiveness to customer demands, faster turnaround times and reduced downtime.
Local content development
One of the highpoints of the 13tg anniversary of IVM/ISO and MANCAP certificate presentation was the assurance of sustained commitment to high standards and local content development.
Apart from the citation by SON revealing that Innoson has achieved up to 65 percent of content in its vehicle production, Dr. Chukwuns had later, in an interview, confirmed the feat.
He hinted that his company was prepared to partner with more local content manufacturers and suppliers to raise the level even higher.
Playing a very vital role in IVM local content drive is Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Ltd located in Enene, Enugu, which manufactures a long list of plastic parts and accessories.
Relevant (carbon) steel is also supplied by local dealers.
In his words: “We source some items we used in the production of vehicles locally and we import some. For example, I produce plastic components of the vehicle, like bumper, dashboards, and front grille in Enugu. We are in a position that any item that anybody can localise, we would buy it from them. Any parts we get in Nigeria, we don’t need to import it. But we till import the engines.”
With Engr. Akingbesote at the event were other SON Directors, including Head, Client Management, Management Systems Certification Mrs Nene Obianwu; and the Director, Management Systems Certification, Engr. Obiageli Egbuuciem.
Also present were the Managing Director of Nolie Ventures, Engr. Nwaomy Olujie; elder brother of Innoson Chairman and Chairman of Gabris Group, Chief Gabriel Chukwuma; son of the Innoson Chairman, Obinna Chukwuma.
It was learnt at the occasion that Engr. Olujie’s Nolie Ventures helps to guide factories towards successful ISO certification.
As Nigeria’s first indigenous auto manufacturer, Innoson Vehicle commenced vehicle production with pick-ups and mini buses, and has since widened the range to include modern light commercial vehicles pick-ups built for the security agencies, passenger cars, family vehicles, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
The bus line-up now covers various models for city, inter-city and shuttle services, while fire trucks with different fire-fighting capacities have also been added to large family of vehicles.
Two years ago, IVM became the first, and so far, the only automaker in Nigeria to produce vehicles that are powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
This was long before the removal of subsidy on the importation of petrol which sent the pump prices to the roof top, leading to the current attention on CNG as an alternative
