EEF South, the Hampshire-based regional engineering employers' association, has underlined its quality approach to business by gaining the ISO9001:2000 standard.

The organisation, which has offices in Hook and is the regional centre for manufacturing excellence, is using the award to underpin its approach to service delivery to its 900 member companies.

The award was presented by Major Norman Hearson, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, who said: "EEF South is an extremely influential organisation, not just in delivering services to its members but also in supporting the local economic development of the region as a whole."

Major Hearson, who is also president of INTECH, the hands-on science and technology centre near Winchester, added: "They recognise - as we do at INTECH - the importance to us all of ensuring we maintain a vibrant, successful, manufacturing sector."

EEF South has developed a 21st century approach to implementing a quality management system, using hyperlinked flow charts to provide fast and easy access to information for members of staff.

The business management system was developed by one of EEF South's senior consultants Keith Carpenter, who devised the approach as a means of bringing the concept of "quality" to life for everyone within the organisation.

Mr Carpenter said: "This is a quantum leap from the 'dusty old manuals' that are only brought out when the external assessor is coming to visit, to a dynamic and easily-controlled system that can be dipped into by anyone on site as and when required."

The system, which is accessible to all employees on the EEF South intranet, has activity boxes contained in the flowcharts for additional information to be accessed.

David Seall, EEF South chief executive, said the achievement of the standard, awarded after a near-faultless audit, was an important element in the delivery of services to member companies.

He said: "Quality touches every aspect of business activity and it is vital that we set the highest standards in everything we do to support the activities of members.

"The business management system we now have in place will assist us in measuring our success in meeting the needs of our members.

"Things, of course, don't stop with getting the 'badge' and we are already actively improving the system to make it 'leaner' through our continual process of improvements."