ETI Homes' ISO status renewed

ETI Homes, the construction and property development arm of the Edirisinghe Trust Investments Ltd (ETI) conglomerate, recently announced that its ISO 9001:2000 certification, initially issued in 2007, has been renewed for another year. This certification was awarded to ETI Homes for its consistent unflagging excellence in construction supervision, a true first in Sri Lanka.

Issued by UKAS Quality Management on behalf of the International Organization of Standards (ISO), this world-renowned industry yardstick is granted after a thorough evaluation of key criteria such as: the formulation of a set of procedures that cover all key processes in the business; the monitoring of processes to ensure that they are effective; the keeping of adequate records; the inspection of output for defects, with appropriate corrective action where necessary; regular reviews of individual processes and the quality system itself for effectiveness; and the facilitation of continual improvement.

Commenting on the stringent requirements for ISO certification, GM - ETI Homes, Ranjan Perera, emphasized that "achieving the benchmark is only the beginning of a journey; the crucial factor is to maintain and upgrade these standards."

The reorganization of ETI in 2004 saw the establishment of a new corporate structure and the installation of a CEO, Mahendra De Silva, who promised to launch new business lines such as property development, land sales and leasing. Less than a year after this announcement, ETI Homes was born and tasked with the mission of becoming an elite player in the property development industry.

Noting that this objective has already been achieved, De Silva stated that "the awarding and renewal of the ISO 9001:2000 certification is proof that, while our revenue growth and stability has placed us at the forefront of the industry and made us a household name, we've never lost our single-minded focus on demanding the very highest levels of quality from our employees and systems."

As a result of this dedication to exacting standards of excellence, the company has invested in a wide range of resources, including a consultant to conduct training seminars, the establishment of clear guidelines and regular audits.

De Silva outlined his vision for the conglomerate which involves securing ISO certification for the different product lines and divisions within the company and then aiming for an overall company certification.

Speaking specifically about ETI Homes which currently undertakes the development of housing schemes and apartment buildings for a primarily mid- and upper-class clientele, as well as turn-key construction, De Silva commented that the company would now also get involved in the construction of mid- and lower-middle class housing schemes. He declared that "ETI and its subsidiary ETI Homes has always been committed to serving all Sri Lankans and with this foray into a new market segment, we promise to deliver the same outstanding levels of consistent quality."