CML have achieved a groundbreaking accomplishment in achieving ISO 44001 certification for collaboration between our Operational and Commercial Departments. According to the ICW (Institute for Collaborative Working) this is the first ever example of such an arrangement and was highlighted as a case study in The ICW’s recent publication The Partner 2024. (The ICW are the thought leaders behind the development of the International Standard for business collaboration).
Certification provides 3rd party assessment that the collaboration management system is operating correctly and is effective. In general, companies achieve ISO 44001 certification for their external relationships normally with customers, suppliers and/or strategic partners. They then use the evidence to provide confidence to customers in proposals of the capability and culture of the company.
Often the biggest challenge, and a risk to external collaboration, is the way the company works together between its various departments and embeds the collaborative culture throughout the business. As external relationships are normally underpinned by business agreements and contracts, the culture is not necessarily embedded throughout the business and is often limited to the specific relationship. This is not the case for the relationships across internal departments as it is systematic, making the task harder, as to be successful it embraces the whole company interactions. Establishing this solid foundation to collaboration within CML first, significantly de-risks and strengthens its external collaborations and assures its stakeholders that the collaborative culture is embedded and not just for specific customer projects.
This milestone is a major move for CML in its mission to not only embed collaborative culture internally but to also evidence that we have done this through certification and independent assessment. Real added value is now being achieved through our collaborative culture permeating sideways through all the other departments within CML that interact with the Operational and Commercial teams with adopted collaborative behaviours.
“We first considered adopting ISO 44001 and certification as a demonstrable means of being collaborative to our clients as it was an integral requirement on some of the major Rail Frameworks and part of the tender process. Once we understood the key principles of collaboration it became apparent that this was the right way we wanted to do business,” says Maurice Deans, Operations Director.
“Being SER (Senior Executive Responsible) for driving this business change has been exciting to see the culture being embedded. It’s one thing to say you are collaborative, but it is a completely different thing to evidence that, and we are now able to do this through this process.”
This news comes in the wake of many of our recent initiatives and accomplishments, including:
- Network Rail NW&C CP7 Reactive Framework Award
- Network Rail Southern CP7 Lot 6 Metallic Structures Framework Award