Page 72: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2011)

chant ships, which because of the mainasset (the ship), often operating far from managements physical location, be- comes the only means of assessment.This it should not be the case. The Mas- ter and his crew should be encouraged to be the main eyes and supervisors of the management system, but the primary re- sponsibility of bringing them on boardshould really be the commitment of topmanagement. Suggestions and depend-ency on auditors is the starting point of the fear culture and a false measure of ef- ficiency. AUDITORS ADDING VALUE: A WELL-DEFINED NCAuditors add value by examining evi- dence of how well the system is helpingits users to predict potential NC by ana-lyzing data and getting useful informa- tion from it. This information should provide the trends and analysis to make decisions on resources and measures toimprove efficiency and cut loss before it occurs. Auditors add value by reporting NCs objectively, based on actual require- ments and supported by the evidence ob- served. And, in the end, that should be the only expectation from a good auditor: a well defined objective NC. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: THE FOX IN CHARGE OF THE HEN HOUSE?Flag State Administrations and Regis- tered Organizations (RO) and Registered Security Organizations (RSO) should support the auditing system by avoiding conflicts of interest. When, for example, an RO represents the Flag State for certi- fications, and then also chooses (or is nominated by principals) to be the con-sultant and trainer, a compromise on both the objectivity and ultimate of the audit comes into question. Independence of theauditing institution must be a commit-ment of every stakeholder in the maritime industry. That premise is not unique to quality auditors alone; it stretches acrossthe breadth of the supply chain.68Maritime Reporter & Engineering News Maple City, MI 49664 Q USA Q www.binsfeld.com Phone: (+1) 231.334.4383 Q Toll Free: 800.524.3327 Good. Better. Binsfeld. Torque & Power Output? Need to Measure RealWith Binsfeld systems you can do that.Whether for temporary measurementsor continuous monitoring, Binsfeld telemetry instruments deliver truemechanical torque and power data direct from the shaft. N Simple to install ? mounts externally to shaft N Versatile ? fits large or small shafts, any torque level N Accurate ? 14-bit digital technology delivers precise, high-resolution data signals N Non-contact ? no wear surfaces means long term reliability To learn more call 231-334-4383 or contact [email protected] today.Starting with the IMO, Flag State and Operatorand all the way down to the ship itself, each party must be a stakeholder in the system. Ship operators will use and improve their system only when everyone understands that identifying opportunities for improvement will never be met with punishment; on the contrary, they will be valued. A confidence then emerges that the system will allow people to produce outcomes which safely meet supply chain requirements, produce profits and protect the environment. 2011 YEARBOOKQUALITY AUDITS