If you gave several contract metal manufacturers the same print with the exact specifications and asked them to create those parts, you would have some manufacturers that consistently produce high-quality parts, some that do part of the time, and others that don’t hit the mark at all. The variance will likely reflect the differences in each contract manufacturer’s quality system.
Producing high-quality parts isn’t cheap and it isn’t easy. Companies willing to invest time and resources into their quality system will produce better products. Companies with ISO 9001 certification have demonstrated their commitment to investing in quality.
What Is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is a globally recognized international standard that sets the requirements for a company’s quality management system, including seven quality management principles (QMPs): Customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making, and relationship management. The QMPs are a basis for performance improvement and organizational excellence.
ISO explains the importance of each QMP as follows and stresses there is no order of significance:
Customer focus – “The primary focus of quality management is to meet customer requirements and to strive to exceed customer expectations.”
Leadership – “Leaders at all levels establish unity of purpose and direction and create conditions in which people are engaged in achieving the organization’s quality objectives.”
Engagement of people – “Competent, empowered, and engaged people at all levels throughout the organization are essential to enhance its capability to create and deliver value.”
Process approach – “Consistent and predictable results are achieved more effectively and efficiently when activities are understood and managed as interrelated processes that function as a coherent system.”
Improvement – “Successful organizations have an ongoing focus on improvement.”
Evidence-based decision making – “Decisions based on the analysis and evaluation of data and information are more likely to produce desired results.”
Relationship management – “For sustained success, an organization manages its relationships with interested parties, such as suppliers.”
How Does Certification Work?
A manufacturer seeking a ISO 9001 certification is not certified by ISO but by a third-party accredited certification body, called a Registrar. The Registrar verifies that all requirements have been met through extensive documentation and certification audits that can last several days. Any findings (non-conformances) must be addressed and rectified prior to certification. To ensure the system’s integrity, surveillance audits are conducted annually in the years between recertifications. Internal audits conducted by the manufacturer’s trained personnel are performed at regular intervals as a self-check. The company must recertify every three years.
ISO 9001 certification isn’t fool-proof, but it does ensure that the manufacturer has procedures and systems in place to prevent quality issues. And if an issue occurs, ISO 9001 certification requires that they are addressed and measures are put in place to prevent them from happening again.
Benefits Of Working With An ISO 9001 Certified Manufacturer
An ISO-certified contract metal manufacturer demonstrates to its customers that they are committed to meeting the customer’s expectations. There are several advantages that customers can expect.
Quality – Systems and processes ensure quality is consistent throughout each lot and repeatable from job to job.
Waste reduction – ISO certified manufacturers are always looking for ways to reduce scrap and waste. Fewer defects and reworks mean faster delivery and lower costs.
On-time delivery – increased efficiency, lower reworks, and continuous improvement allow ISO certified manufacturers to coordinate each step of the process better, resulting in higher on-time delivery rates.
Customer satisfaction – ISO certification is focused on ensuring the quality of work is consistent and meets the customer’s needs. The processes provide improved on-time delivery and potential for cost reduction, resulting in greater customer satisfaction.
Tusco Receives ISO 9001:2015 Recertification
We recently passed our ISO recertification with zero minor or major findings (non-conformance). This means the auditor found nothing to signify significant issues or even areas of weakness that could impact our company’s ability to provide quality products.
We have made a significant investment in quality, which shows in our results. Our cost of quality is less than one percent of annual sales, and we have an on-time delivery rate of 94 percent. We strive to provide the highest quality products on time and at competitive prices.
Why do we do it? To earn our customers’ trust. We understand how hard trust is to earn and how easy it is to lose. This is why meeting our customers’ expectations is a foundational pillar for our company. Our goal is to develop a relationship that gives our customers the greatest benefit by consistently providing high-quality products to maximize the value they receive.
Contact Tusco to learn more about working with an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer.
