HONG KONG: July 17, 2018. Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has become the world's first cargo terminal operator (CTO) to complete a pilot for IATA’s new Smart Facility Operational Capacity Audit (SFOC).

SFOC is part of the Smart Facility programme that aims to provide total transparency on capacities and services offered by CTOs, by means of a multi-tiered validation process. This could save thousands of man-hours every year taken up with largely duplicated auditing effort.

Hactl was chosen as the launch test site for the new audit system because of the scale and complexity of its operations, the diverse range of cargo it handles, the number of carriers (over 100) it serves, and the company’s highly-developed quality management systems.

“The IATA Smart Facility Operational Capacity Audit (SFOC) pilot with Hactl was successful. The feedback received from the Hactl team was valuable in fine-tuning the audit questions, auditor actions and guidance ensuring a consistently high audit quality across the program,” said Glyn Hughes, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.

SFOC targets a reduction in complexity and number of current industry audits, by adopting all IATA standards relating to cargo terminal operations.

“Smart Facility Operational Capacity Audit reports will enable carriers to complement their risk analysis data, and conduct more focused on-site audits that are shorter, less resource-intensive and less frequent,” explained Hughes.

Initially the program aims to reduce carrier audit complexity by 50%, reducing the burden on cargo terminal operators.

Hactl Chief Operating Officer Tan Chee Hong (pictured) added: “The Smart Facility Operational Capacity Audit will provide a simple, public register of all handler’s facilities and capabilities, supported by benchmarking against universally accepted industry standards. This can only result in the spread of best practice, and competition based on quality rather than price.

“We were very happy to support this excellent initiative from IATA, because Hactl is in favour of any measure that promotes the adoption of high and consistent standards throughout the air cargo industry. We must all eradicate any weak links in air cargo supply chains, for the collective good of the industry - and this is a very effective move towards that goal,” he continued.

IATA will conduct additional SFOC pilot audits in London, Luxembourg, Singapore, Amsterdam and Dubai throughout the remainder of 2018.