Sometimes one industry’s bad news is cause to celebrate for … almost everybody else in the world.

Return Path, one of the world’s biggest email certification companies, says the number of emails getting through to inboxes worldwide dropped considerably in the second half of 2011. The decline in “deliverability rates”, from 81% to 76.5%, was the first such dip since Return Path began keeping track in 2004. Put another way, roughly 1 in 4 emails did not get through to you, me or anyone else from July through December 0f 2011

Read more: http://business.time.com/2012/03/27/why-your-inbox-may-seem-a-little-less-crowded-these-days/#ixzz1qKgQoa00

The new product would offer users a large amount of web-based storage, which all connected devices could upload content to or access.

Services such as Dropbox and Box have been characterised as Silicon Valley’s hottest start-ups. They have capitalised on users’ desire to synchronise video, pictures and music across phones, cameras and other connected devices. Apple has also recently launched its iCloud service for its products.

for more; www.independent.ie/business/technology

and..Google Chrome: Taking the whole web, everywhere

DUBLIN RANKS as the 26th best city in the world for quality of living in a list of 221 cities rated in a business survey. The capital remains in the same place as last year, down from 25th place in 2009.

In a related list, Dublin ranks as the 16th best city for personal safety, immediately ahead of Amsterdam.  http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1130/1224308333901.html?via=mr

Six Sigma(1) a data-driven method for improving business and quality performance, has been published as a two-part ISO standard.

Six Sigma was originally developed by Motorola in 1986 to ameliorate manufacturing processes with the goal of 99.99966% (2) of products free of defects (i.e., 3.4 errors per million). Today, the methodology is applied in many sectors of activity by organizations large and small for all types of process and services to:

• Drive process improvement and make statistically based decisions
• Measure business results with a level of reliance
• Prepare for uncertainty
• Combine high returns and benefits in the short, medium and long-term
• Remove waste, defects and errors.

These results were reported on 17 June 2011 at the launching by ISO of the new standard at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), Switzerland.

ISO Secretary-General Rob Steele told the international audience of nearly 200 people attending the event: “Energy is no longer a technical issue, but a management issue with an impact on the bottom line and the time to address the issue is now.”

He cited the experience of two plants. One of them was a plant owned by a major company, Dow Chemicals. The plant reduced its use of energy by 17.9 % over two years. At the same time, ISO 50001 principles are also successfully implemented by small businesses as shown by the experience of the other plant, CCP, of Houston, Texas, employing 36 people. In two years, it achieved energy savings of 14.9 %, worth USD 250 000 a year with zero capital investment.

With energy one of the most critical challenges facing the international community, the publication of the ISO International Standard ISO 50001 on energy management systems is expected to have a positive impact on some 60 per cent of the world’s energy use.

Minister Cullen, speaking at the presentation said: “Innovative companies like Waterford Carpets play a vital role in promoting the quality of Irish-manufactured products worldwide while sustaining jobs in Ireland. I am delighted today to present this company with this prestigious ISO 14001 Environmental Certification. A local industry with a global market, Waterford Carpets through using the unique Tretford cord, have truly embraced a unique selling point as an integral part of their business plan. The natural, renewable content makes this corded carpet one of the most environ- mentally preferable carpets on the market. It is a fantastic achievement for Waterford Carpets that their dedication and focus has been recognised by the International Organisation for Standardiza- tion. I congratulate Noel Cunningham and his staff here in the IDA Business Park, Waterford on this key achievement.”

Acknowledging the presence of the Minister, Noel Cunningham said “Being synonymous with Waterford, Waterford Carpets Ltd is proud of the success that its Tretford carpet has enjoyed internationally as an Irish brand.”

Commenting on the strength of Tretford’s global brand, Hugh Kelly said, “This award was an important acknowledgement of Tretford’s excellent environmental credentials and its on-going initiatives to set the highest standards in the flooring industry.” Manufactured in Ireland since 1969, Tretford’s unique goat hair carpet is exported to over 20 countries worldwide. Concern for the environment is at the heart of the Tretford brand and Waterford Carpets Ltd are delighted to have been awarded ISO 14001 certification.

ISO comments in the introduction to the survey that the 8 % increase in ISO 9001 certificates, compared with the 3 % increase in 2008, “confirms the importance of ISO 9001 in the global supply chains and as the pioneering model on which subsequent management system standards have been built and flourish”.

Safe food supply chains are a global priority. ISO 22000:2005 certifications reached at least 13 881 certificates in 127 countries and economies – a rise of 69 %.

The increasing importance organizations give to information security was demonstrated by the 40 % increase in ISO/IEC 27001 certifications which reached 12 934 in 117 countries.

ISO Secretary-General Rob Steele comments: “Each year, the release of the latest ISO Survey is an eagerly awaited event as the primary source of information on the importance of ISO’s management system standards to the global economy. For the first time, the new edition is being published on a CD-ROM containing Excel files of the surveys from the first in 1993 up to the end of 2009. Making this data available in one place will facilitate comparison and extrapolation and make the survey an even more useful business tool.”

1993 to 2009 figures

For the first time, ISO is making the survey available on a CD-ROM in Excel files covering 1993 to 2009, which allows comparisons since the survey was launched.

ISO 9001

ISO 9001 (certifications to 2000 and 2008 editions cumulated) which gives the requirements for quality management systems, is now firmly established as the globally implemented standard for providing assurance about the ability to satisfy quality requirements and to enhance customer satisfaction in supplier-customer relationships.
Up to the end of December 2009, at least 1 064 785 ISO 9001 (2000 and 2008) certificates had been issued in 178 countries and economies. The 2009 total represents an increase of 81 953 (+ 8 %) over 2008, when the total was 982 832 in 176 countries and economies.

ISO 14001:2004

ISO 14001:2004, which gives the requirements for environmental management systems, retains its global relevance for organizations wishing to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Up to the end of December 2009, at least 223 149 ISO 14001:2004 certificates had been issued in 159 countries and economies. Annual growth is stabilized at almost the same level as in 2008 – 34 334 in 2009, compared to 34 242 in 2008, when the total was 188 815 in 155 countries and economies.

ISO/TS 16949

ISO/TS 16949 (certifications to 2002 and 2009 editions cumulated) gives the requirements for the application of ISO 9001:2000 by suppliers in the automotive sector. Up to the end of December 2009, at least 41 240 ISO/TS 16949:2002 certificates had been issued in 83 countries and economies.

ISO 13485:2003

ISO 13485:2003 gives quality management requirements for the medical device sector for regulatory purposes. Up to the end of December 2009, at least 16 424 ISO 13485:2003 certificates had been issued in 90 countries and economies. The 2009 total represents an increase of 3 190 (+ 24 %) over 2008 when the total was 13 234 in 88 countries and economies.

ISO/IEC 27001:2005

ISO/IEC 27001:2005 gives the requirements for information security management systems. At the end of 2009, at least 12 934 ISO/IEC 27001:2005 certificates had been issued in 117 countries and economies. The 2009 total represents an increase of 3 688 (+ 40 %) over 2008 when the total was 9 246 in 82 countries and economies.

ISO 22000:2005

ISO 22000:2005 gives the requirements for food safety management systems. Up to the end of December 2009, at least 13 881 ISO 22000:2005 certificates had been issued in 127 countries and economies. The 2009 total represents an increase of 5 675 (+ 69 %) over 2008 when the total was 8 206 in 112 countries and economies

The presentation of the certificates was made by Mr. Kingston of ISO-CEL Ltd. to Mr Cormac Smith Secretary of MMD Construction Cork Ltd. Also present at the ceremony was Mr. Alan Morris. Executive Southern Region of the Construction Industry Federation.

MMD has been working towards the ISO:9001 Quality Standard with the last 2 Years. The company is dedicated to Top Quality Workmanship with a Customer Focus and values the approach of Continual Improvement in all aspects of the company’s performance. The Presentation of the ISO:9001-2008 Quality Standard Certificate is another mile – stone for the company in it continual growth strategy, . MMD Construction Cork Ltd. have achieved International Standards in both Quality and Safety due to the high standards of its internal management systems and strong staff commitment to both standards quoted Mr. Kingston of ISO-CEL Ltd.

The project to implement both the Quality and Safety Standard was headed by Mr. Declan Harrington. Declan completed the ISO:9001-2008 Auditor Lead Auditor course accredited IRCA (International Register of Certified Auditors) Declan lead a team of both site and office representatives consisting of a Quality Manager and a Safety Officer who worked to implement all of the required systems to reach the standard.

Two years ago MMD Construction Cork Ltd. Received the Safe-T-Cert award . The company has continued to build on that achievement by pushing the safety standards to their maximum. Attainment of the OHSAS 18001 Safety Standards was the next logical step in the promotion of a top class Safety Management System for MMD Construction Cork Ltd. by achieving an Internationally recognised standards, quoted Cormac Smith on behalf of the company. It is the company s primary objective to promote safety in the workplace to national and International standards
said Mr. Smith.

The company’s Managing Director Mr Tomás O’Donovan said “ The Company has plans to do International work. Having worked towards and achieving both of the Internationally Recognised standards in both Quality and Safety will help the company in pursuit of this goal” .

MMD Construction Cork Ltd.
www.mmd.ie