QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE MARINE AIDS TO NAVIGATION SERVICE

The quality management methodology allows the provision of services to be structured, documenting processes, setting indicators, and carrying out surveys to obtain user's views–all with the aim of continually improving.

Therefore, in this area, Puertos del Estado, through the Aids to Navigation Area, promotes the implementation of quality systems  and, in general, any structured methodology that allows the provision of the service to be measured and improved, lending relevant importance to the phase when stakeholders are consulted.

Tools such as Quality Reference Guides and/or Service Menus facilitate monitoring of quality indicators suited to the provision of aids to navigation services and their evolutionary analysis through quality summaries, where user opinions have also been considered through surveys and other forms of participation.

Our Mission and Vision

Puertos del Estado's MISSION in this area is:

• To guarantee the availability of a national marine aid to navigation system, designed and reviewed depending on the traffic and risks identified in each area and at each time, for the different types of seafarers.
• To develop the required standards to facilitate compliance with quality levels, to perform inspections and strengthen training, research, development and innovation in the area of marine aids to navigation. All at the highest level of international coordination.
• To ensure that minimum quality levels for the service provided to the different types of seafarer are complied with, regardless of the organization providing the service. 

Puertos del Estado's VISION: To be a Center of Excellence in the area of Marine Aids to Navigation. 

Quality System Documents (Q-AtoN)

In the development of quality management, going beyond strict legal compliance, the Puertos del Estado area for Aid to Navigation —in collaboration with several Port Authorities— has drawn up a Generic Reference Guide for specific development of the same by Port Authorities or incorporation of it into their own quality systems. 

Puertos del Estado has developed its own specific Reference Guide for service quality in the area of marine aids to navigation and also a Service Menu, following the model set for public administrations, which defines a series of indicators.