What is Achilles?

Achilles is an independent verification to provide a higher level of pre-qualification assurance for Achilles buyers particularly within the utilities sector. The intention is to enable Achilles buyers’ access to a suitably pre-qualified supply chain that they can invite to tender.

These Audits specifically looks at a suppliers approach to Safety, Health, Environment and Quality and Corporate Social Responsibility. The Achilles protocol provides the Buyer companies with an independent assessment of suppliers’ management systems in each of the discipline areas both from an internal management system perspective as well as a test of the application onsite. The results of the audits are published online and used by buying and compliance representatives within each subscribing buyer Company.

Suppliers benefit from the protocol as a crosscheck against any pre-existing accreditation or certification that they may have worked towards (e.g. ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001) and use the information gathered by the Achilles auditor to highlight positive elements (best practice) or address gap areas (opportunities for improvement).

The Achilles Audit is clearly differentiated from ISO certification in that it provides the buying organisations with a high level view of the existing management systems and supporting resources against community specific risk areas.

It is important to note, that an Achilles Audit is not a mandatory requirement unless stipulated by a buying organisation.

How Can Arc Management Systems Help?

To provide an overview of the Achilles process and a formal procedure for the execution of Achilles audits as part of the pre-qualification of a suppliers’ Company. This includes the organisation, coordination and delivery of Achilles audits as well as the training and briefing of all parties involved in the delivery of the Achilles Audits.