Framatome ANP Receives ISO 9001:2000 Certification

Framatome ANP has just received ISO 9001:2000 certification for all four of its business groups and for its three regions: Germany, France and the US. To date, only 10% of companies worldwide have been awarded this new ISO certification. The 2000 version explicitly integrates customer satisfaction as a measure and demands continuous quality improvement. This certification applies to all of Framatome ANP's activities worldwide and guarantees that the same processes will be implemented by Framatome ANP, regardless of the location providing the services. Preparation for this certification required standardized practices across all regions and units, and developing solutions that best harnessed synergies and that will facilitate joint projects. The results are simplified processes and improved efficiency that will mean better service for Framatome ANP's customers.

FBFC International Attains OHSAS 18001 Certification

FBFC International, a Framatome ANP subsidiary, is the first unit of the AREVA group to attain the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 certifications at the end of December 2001.

The OHSAS standard, in force since 1999, was developed with the assistance of different cooperating organizations such as the British Standards Institution, Bureau Veritas Quality International, Den Norske Veritas and SGS Yarsley International Certification Services.

The specifications were developed in response to customer demand for a recognizable health and safety management system standard against which their own management systems could be assessed and certified. Legal obligations were minimal but the specifications also include the installation of a system of continual improvements in overall occupational health and safety performance in line with the unit's policy.

OHSAS 18001 was designed to be compatible with the ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environmental) norms, already obtained by FBFC International several years ago.

The first renewal audit for the OHSAS standard and the second renewal audit for the ISO 14001 standard were completed in October at FBFC International. In addition, a unit of the fuel business group, FBFC International also is ISO 9001: 2000 certified.

US Nuclear Parts Center Celebrates 25 Years of Service

In 1977, a Babcock and Wilcox small parts function was moved from Akron, Ohio to Lynchburg, Virginia. At that time, the Nuclear Parts Center's (NPC) main business was providing parts to the NSSS plants being built by B&W. Over time, a new, specialized facility was built and the business was expanded to include all types of reactors. NPC became the exclusive nuclear parts distributor for multiple suppliers, and also manufactured certain parts and refurbished others.

Framatome ANP's NPC is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Its mission is the same as originally expressed by its first manager, Lou Weissert who stated, “NPC exists to meet our customers' needs for reliable spare parts delivered on schedule, and in that process, to contribute to the profit and growth performance of the company. We should accept nothing less than having the best reputation for performance in the spare parts business as viewed by our customers.”

NPC customers now depend on NPC to inventory a wide variety of spare parts so they are available when needed, reducing their storage costs, and for helping to solve problems 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To facilitate customer contact, an NPC Customer Inquiry System (NPC-CIS) is available at: www.us.framatome-anp.com.

Nuclear Parts Center employees are committed to maintaining and
improving their exemplary reputation for performance