CAEI Consortium recertifies its integrated Quality and Environment management system with ISO 9001 and 14001

For the second time in the last five years, CAEI has recertified its integrated quality and environment management system under the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards.   

The recertification audit was carried out in mid-June. Gabriel Argüello, Director of Quality and Environment of CAEI, accompanied the SGS auditing firm throughout the audit, which covered different activities and areas of the operation including soil preparation, cultivation, harvesting and transportation of cane, manufacturing and commercialization of raw and, refined sugar and sugarcane derivatives.

Upon the successful completion of this process, Alberto Potes, Executive Vice President of CAEI, valued the effort and dedication of all the company's employees, and stressed that the Integrated Management System continues to be a very powerful tool that contributes to in the sustainability and growth of CAEI and the sugar industry in the Dominican Republic.

“This integrated management effort that we began in 2013 continues to confirm that we have traversed the right path, supported by reductions in cost, the commitment of our employees and effective risk management, as well as continuous improvement.  We appreciate the efforts of each and every one of the company's leaders for their great contribution, and I invite them to continue raising the flag of efficiency, productivity, quality and environmental care," Potes stressed.

Manuel Alvarado was the lead auditor from SGS, accompanied by Darwin Benavides and Ana Estévez, as well as Claudia Toledo, technical agronomist expert, and María Ditrén, legal expert.

Alvarado stressed that CAEI's integrated management system is working "fundamentally to provide a good function, good organization and good management to the entire company.”  He pointed out that the auditors were able to verify required documents and the technological platforms that managed decision-making. “The company has a much more robust system. It is an excellent job,” emphasized the external auditor.

Gabriel Argüello, Director of Quality and Environment, guaranteed that the company will continue working with the action plans that allow this integrated system to function properly. "We are committed to continuing to improve management systems and these external audits are part of the enrichment we have to have to improve them every day."

At the same time, the company successfully completed the follow-up audit of the ISO 45001:2018 standard, which guarantees a healthy and safe workplace for all employees.  The standard has an expanded scope that includes physical security, cane laboratory, agricultural laboratories, cane handling and reception. Initially it only included cultivation, harvesting and transportation. 

The CAEI Consortium has an Environmental Management System that allows the development of the business in a sustainable manner.  The Environmental Management System was certified in July 2016 under the ISO14001 standard, and in 2019 it was updated to the latest version.

Similarly, since 2016 the CAEI Consortium has also been certified under Bonsucro and Proterra, which focus on sustainable production systems encompassing compliance with labor, production efficiency and social and environmental standards.