In December 2002, Severstal's quality management system will undergo certification for the new version of ISO 9001-2000. This decision was made by Severstal's top management in agreement with the auditing party, while conducting a routine audit of Severstal's existing quality management system.
   Over three days, Lloyd's experts David Sharp (Lonond), Gunta Primane (Riga) and Vitaly Diyakonenko (St. Petrsburg) audited 5 production units representing various parts of the technology chain as well as their management structure. As a result of this audit, Severstal was able to confirm its compliance with the ISO 9002-94 international quality standard.
   Lloyd's experts confirmed that the quality system in place at Severstal is effective and continually improving. This is largely due to continuous audits by company's experts, Severstal implementing recommendations of the auditing company, and a number of measures taken by the management which will allow to switch to the ISO-9001-2000. The program of such measures included putting in place the system of managing improvements and widening the use of statistical methods in quality management. These and some other measures, noted by the auditing party, will allow Severstal to soon receive a certificate for the new version of ISO-9001-2000. Severstal presently has the 1994 version of ISO-9001. It was received in February 2000.