Oakley Transport, a liquid food-grade transportation company and TMSA member, has proven itself a pioneer in the industry by spearheading a new standard for excellence. In early August, Oakley became the first in their industry globally to earn two ISO Certifications.
ISO certifies that a management system or manufacturing process meets all the requirements for standardization and quality assurance. Oakley received two derivative certifications of ISO 9000 (QMS), ISO 9001:2015 and 22000:2005, which focus on food safety and superior management systems.
In order to earn these certifications, Oakley performed an exhaustive evaluation of their procedures. Working with their customers and faced with new food safety regulations, Oakley saw a need to transform the business from a trucking company into a food transportation company.
All department and employee responsibilities were realigned to better serve the newly defined needs and a review of all company operations were documented into a quality management system.
The quality management system formed by taking a collaborative and integrated approach and applying consistent principles within each department. Employees were trained in the proper methods, which continuously improved through corrective action and internal audit processes.
By earning ISO Certification, Oakley established a baseline performance for their competitors and showcased their commitment to regulatory requirements, exceptional service and consistent, customer-centric practices.
“Oakley Transport has redefined excellence in the food transportation industry,” says Thomas Oakley, founder and owner of Oakley Transport. “ISO Certification reflects our dedication to food safety and the integrity of our customers’ product. We have raised the bar for the entire industry and that is something we are very proud of.”
Because there are many carrier options available in the market, holding ISO Certification differentiates Oakley among the competitors when customers’ are searching for a hauler, Ryan Walls, Vice President of Safety and Risk Management, relays. The company’s newly endorsed operations demonstrates to an increasingly demanding customer base how their processes result in improved performance and consistently high quality products.
ISO Certification also exhibits Oakley’s understanding of food regulations, like the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA), which allows the company to promise a safe, accurate and reliable service to customers and their consumers.
“As the first transportation company to achieve both the 9001 and 2200 ISO Certifications, our customers can be confident that Oakley has established world class processes and procedures to ensure the safe transportation of their food products,” says Ty Sherman, CFO of Oakley Transport. “As FSMA has expanded into the transportation of food, it will become more and more critical that further customers deal only with companies that have achieved the ISO Certifications.
For more information, visit www.OakleyTransport.com. Article content written by Ellie Horton, Account Manager for Black Oak Creative, a small digital agency based in Winter Haven, Fla.