Rio Tinto unveils business excellence model for jewellery  ( August '8,2003, HBL)

RIO Tinto Diamonds, the sales and marketing division for the Rio Tinto group's rough diamond production, has launched its Business Excellence Model for the diamond and jewellery industry in a bid to map an organisation's compliance with regulatory requirements in areas such as grading system, customer focus, service process, purchasing process, environmental protection, health and safety factors and social responsibility.

The Rio Tinto group owns Argyle Diamonds in Australia, the world's largest diamond mine, and is the majority owner and operator of the Diavik mine in Canada.

The Business Excellence Model has been developed by Rio Tinto Diamonds in association with KPMG specifically for the diamond and jewellery industry.

KPMG has been selected to undertake the Model's implementation audits and certification process.

The Diamonds Business Excellence Model is structured around four key areas - quality, environment, health & safety and social responsibility.

"The aim of the initiative is two-fold. As a global company, Rio Tinto is keen to ensure that its concerns about product stewardship and business standards are understood and addressed further down the diamond pipeline," a release from Rio Tinto quoting Ms Nirupa Bhatt, Manager, India, said.