South African truck fleet operators are by now well aware that as global supply chains become more integrated, the imperative for logistics providers (including truck fleets) to be governed operationally by international quality assurance standards and protocols intensifies year-on-year. Be it local RTMS certification or global ISO accreditation, holding a quality assurance is a huge draw card for potential logistics customers. Recently, Grindrod Logistics set a national industry benchmark by earning four ISO certifications simultaneously.
Via an integrated audit approach guided by JC Auditors, Grindrod Logistics (GLO), in partnership with Maersk, secured ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management System), ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) certifications.
A challenging journey
According to Oliver Naidoo, managing director of JC Auditors (JCA), “Achieving four ISO certifications simultaneously is a rare feat in South Africa, particularly within the highly dynamic and demanding logistics sector. These certifications position GLO at the forefront of global logistics excellence, reinforcing its capability to manage risk, optimise operations, and contribute to a more sustainable supply chain.
“This remarkable achievement underscores Grindrod Logistics’ commitment to operational excellence, supply chain efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. By attaining these certifications, GLO has strengthened its ability to deliver on stakeholder expectations, ensuring compliance with global best practices while enhancing safety, environmental responsibility, and service quality.”
The journey to certification was not without its challenges, says Naidoo. “The project required meticulous planning, seamless coordination across multiple sites, and an unwavering commitment to compliance. Key highlights included: navigating real-world complexities – a process that demanded overcoming hurdles such as engineering approvals, weather-related delays, and the challenge of maintaining full operational capacity during construction while adhering to strict certification deadlines.
“Multi-site implementation was necessary to establish an Integrated Management System (IMS) across six sites in four provinces, requiring exceptional communication and project management skills; ‘first-time achievement’ is credited to GLO team members, Lungelo Masondo and Chantell Visser, who developed and implemented an IMS system from inception to completion; and rigorous on-site auditing by Anil Lazarus, who, with extensive experience in ISO compliance, conducted audits across all six sites, ensuring that every procedure met the stringent requirements of international standards.”
Integrated auditing expertise at the helm
Naidoo adds that JCA played a pivotal role in guiding GLO through the complex certification process. “The integrated audit approach ensured a streamlined, efficient certification journey, reducing duplication and optimising resource allocation. JCA’s methodology emphasised: Risk-Based Thinking (identifying key risks across the various operational sites and implementing proactive measures to mitigate them); a Stakeholder-Centric Approach (aligning certification efforts with customer expectations, industry requirements, and regulatory compliance); and Sustainability and Continuous Improvement (ensuring that GLO’s management systems support long-term environmental, health, and safety objectives while enhancing business resilience).”
Grindrod Logistics’ newly acquired ISO accreditations are not merely milestones, but stepping stones toward on-going innovation and improvement, Naidoo concludes: “As the company continues to push the boundaries of logistics excellence in Southern Africa, it remains committed to refining its processes, enhancing stakeholder confidence, and contributing to a more sustainable and efficient supply chain.
“Attaining multiple ISO certifications in a single integrated audit is an extraordinary accomplishment. This success not only elevates Grindrod Logistics as a leader in the logistics industry but also demonstrates the power of structured, strategic management systems in enhancing operational efficiency, sustainability, and supply chain resilience.
“This achievement reaffirms that world-class standards are attainable within the South African logistics industry, setting a precedent for others to follow. With a firm foundation built on quality, safety, and environmental stewardship, Grindrod Logistics in partnership with Maersk is poised to shape the future of sustainable and resilient supply chains.”
ENDS
