BSI opens new facility in France and hosts free business improvement event

Companies in France got a double boost on April 20 1999, with a major event in Paris to launch a new BSI facility for management system registration, and a free business-improvement event for local companies.

BSI is the global group of companies known internationally for its Kitemark of product excellence and as the world leader in setting quality and safety standards for industry and consumers.

A BSI certificate is recognised internationally as a passport to world markets and improved efficiency. Almost any organisation can benefit. Whatever the area of expertise, organisations are seeing real commercial advantages from the adoption of international quality management standards such as ISO 9000, and environmental management standards such as ISO 14000.

The free business-improvement event was held as part of a major programme being run by BSI throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It helped companies be more competitive. Experts from BSI gave advice on how management systems standards like ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 help businesses succeed.

The Communication Day and official opening of BSI France were held at the Hotel Napoleon Etoile, 40 Avenue de Friedland, 75008 Paris.

BSI's new office in Le Havre offers companies a local service for independent registration of their management systems to international standards. BSI France helps them prove that they are top-class companies with high-quality management systems in place to help them succeed.

In addition to ISO 9000, the international management system standard, BSI France also provides local access to accredited registration for QS-9000, and ISO 14001, the internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems.

Michele Simmons, manager of BSI France, said: "This new facility is a major asset for our clients, who include leading companies in France like Schneider, Ciments Lafarge, Reuters, Hewlett Packard, Sharp, Dow Corning. We are already working with more than 250 clients throughout France."

Michele Simmons added: "In today's international marketplace, we recognise how important it is to provide organisations with a 'one-stop' service locally, and through this new facility we can give France's companies local access to accredited BSI registration."