Quarterly December 2007 - Odfjell

✔QM CornerCommunication in aQuality PerspectiveBy Anne-Kristine ØenAs an internationalcompany withglobal operations,Odfjell faces daily avariety of communicationchallenges.From a quality perspective,reliabilityand efficiency areimportant keywordsin connection with internal andexternal communication. Reliabilityrefers to regularity and credibility ofthe communication. Efficiency entailsgetting a message through in a promptand reliable manner, to support andcontribute to the further developmentof Odfjell’s company culture, identityand profile.Communication is a vital tool for cementingcompany culture. At the sametime our external communication shouldsecure that we maintain and enhanceknowledge, interest and understandingof the company in our surroundings. Agood reputation built over time will inturn generate a standing in society atlarge that is valuable, not least in timesof crisis. It will also generate interest inthe company as a potential employer,and create pride and loyalty for thosealready employed with Odfjell.To present the company in a consistentway and give it a look that is easily recognizable,Odfjell has established a designmanual. The manual standardizesthe design of our name, the logo, theOdfjell colours and the combination ofthese elements. The standard is corporate,and a design manual has been distributedto all departments. It can alsobe found on the intranet under corporate/communications/designmanual.The design featured in Odfjell publications,letters, advertisements and generallyin all printed matter, is simple,modern but at the same time classic,to reflect high standards and levels ofproficiency as well as quality. There isgood consistency between the looks ofthe annual report, our internet page,Odfjell Quarterly, PowerPoint presentations,brochures, etc.The most important groups of stakeholdersto Odfjell are our own employees,our shareholders and our customers.However, the general public is alsoof great importance to Odfjell, not leastdue to the impact it has on the otherstakeholders. The views of the employees,shareholders and customers are toa great extent shaped by how Odfjell isseen in the media. Therefore it is essentialto have a systematic and well-regulatedapproach to the company’s dealingwith the media and press. All contactwith the media and the public on behalfof Odfjell is dealt with bythe President/CEO or InformationManager, andother persons that havebeen authorized to handlea particular matter.All companies dependon good relations totheir main stakeholders.Through our own performanceOdfjell can toa large extent influencehow our company is perceivedin society.When utilised in a strategic way, communicationcan be a key to securinghigh quality relations while at the sametime reaching company goals.CORPORATE QUALITYMANAGEMENT MANUALTable of ContentsDefinitionsIntroduction2006 Q2Mission and PoliciesOrganizational structuresResponsibilities2006 Q4Human Resource Management 2007 Q2Common Directives2007 Q4Processes and elements ofQuality Management2007 Q3Quality Management System 2007 Q3Quality Assurance and Improvement 2006 Q3Event AnalysisHSE Management2007 Q1Risk Management28 Odfjell Quarterly December 2007