Several national and international certifications and accreditations held by Arsenal do Alfeite S.A. make objective evidence of the shipyard’s technical competency to perform highly qualified work. Every task is carried out following quality procedures and records are kept to provide evidence of conformity to requirements.

The whole activity is focused on customer satisfaction, making sure the customer requirements are determined and met. Enhancing customer satisfaction, as well as continually improving the effectiveness of the quality management system, is the goal that keeps the shipyard in business.

Quality control is present in two different ways:

• Permanent self-control actions taken by skilled workers (supervisors, technicians, operators), making use of a Measuring and Monitoring Device (MMD), calibrated to ensure valid results;
• Testing and inspection actions taken by qualified and certified personnel from Department of Laboratories and Quality Control (SELQ).

Six Laboratories are part of SELQ, five being accredited by the Portuguese Institute for Accreditation (IPAC), according to the standard NP EN ISO / IEC 17025. They are annually audited by IPAC, in order to check compliance with management and technical requirements specified in the reference standard.

Tests and calibrations can be performed in any area of activity other than naval, as well as for any customer. Arsenal do Alfeite, S.A. is thus provided with technical and human resources for running tests and calibrations in different areas of expertise. Quality control plays an important role, ensuring that quality and safety requirements are met in the maintenance area; or making sure that any requirement specified by the customer or legal and normative requirements are met.

In Metrology Laboratory, another type of service is available apart from calibration, representing a clear added value for those owing several measuring instruments. This complementary service consists in a calibration plan management, based on planning and coordination of the whole set of calibrations taking place at a company. It also includes a notification service, warning the organization in advance of the coming date of calibration.