Carmart awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification

Carmart Ltd., authorised importer for Peugeot and Mazda in Sri Lanka has been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 certification for quality standards of its operations.

The certification by SGS covers all provisions and branches of the company which is a rare and noteworthy feat.

The ISO 9001:2008 - Quality Management Systems certification is based on eight quality management principles namely, Customer focus, Leadership, Involvement of people, Process approach, System approach, Continual improvement, Fact-based decision making, and Mutually beneficial supplier relationships. ISO 9001:2008 is implemented by over one million companies and organisations in more than 170 countries and is the international gold standard relating to quality management systems.

ISO 9001 certification is provided when an organisation demonstrates that its Quality Management System has the robust ability to consistently fulfill customer as well as statutory requirements. ISO 9001 certification also proves that the organisation is committed towards continually enhancing customer satisfaction through the application of a management system with processes in place for non-conformance management and perpetual improvement.

Carmart decided to become ISO 9001 certified, not because of industry or client requirements, but because it firmly believes in the systems approach to management. This belief was evident from the inception, as the project consultant, Nexus Business Solutions, was selected based on prior experience with ISO 9001 in the automobile industry, as well as a wealth of experience with ISO consultancy having handled more than 300 companies both in Sri Lanka and overseas. 

Carmart Director / Chief Executive Officer Yasendra Amerasinghe  explained that Carmart’s vision is to be the premier multi-franchise automobile distributor in Sri Lanka.   “Our mission is to provide a leading sales and after-sales experience through professional, efficient, innovative, and responsive service in order to serve our employees, society, and above all, our customers, and to capitalise on the market to reach its potential”, he stated, “and this can only be done through continuous improvement of our processes and by providing exemplary, personalised service to our customers.”

With the implementation of the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System, the entire company is now geared to providing better services to its customers whilst building stronger bonds and creating a more open culture for customer interactions and improved customer satisfaction.

Founded in 1948 by the late Clarence Amerasinghe, Carmart is one of the oldest automobile importers in Sri Lanka, and also one of the oldest continuously operating distributors for its franchises in the Asian region. The company has developed a solid and loyal customer base that has been patronising its’ services for more than five decades.  As such, through the years, Carmart has become a household name and a landmark in Sri Lanka.