In our industry, "quality", "precision" - maybe even "perfection" have become real marketing buzz words. Of course, every manufacturer, especially if "made in germany", is interested in offering products with excellent quality. However, the real quality is initially purely subjectively left to the manufacturer and, of course, also depends on a variety of factors. The international ISO certification standards support comparability. That's why we at ZELL Group also subject our processes to a regular audit, thus enabling sustainable quality management in accordance with ISO:9001.
Why get certified?
The effort for an ISO certification is not insignificant and especially smaller companies should estimate it well. However, the increased trust on the Part of customers and suppliers should not be underestimated in the long term. An international standard has the potential to simplify communication between all Partners. As already described, this creates an objective feeling for all market Participants as to what quality is to be expected from the manufacturer.
Standardization as a “Unique Selling Point (USP)”
It goes without saying that in the presence of competition, a quality-sensitive customer has a direct advantage if he knows that the manufacturer has been certified accordingly. Of course, by contract and by international law, every market Participant can make use of his right to complain, but in this case, there is a general basis for discussion. This can also be of great advantage to the manufacturer when working with suppliers. In this way, it is ensured even before product delivery that active quality management is actively lived and implemented between all Partners. The customer can therefore be sure that his product has been tested and approved several times. This alone also provides new opportunities for existing warranties.
Quality management from goods receipt to order picking
Our own Part carrier system within the ZELL Group has contributed significantly to quality management (QM) since its introduction. Due to the easy accessibility to each individual Part, we can not only spot check, but actually subject each component to a defined quality control. This can be carried out by our firmly defined GRIDs, Partly already fully automatically. Our QM already starts with the incoming goods and thus also ensures the quality of our suppliers. Subsequently, the quality of the product is tested after each essential production step and finally approved by QM before picking and shipping.
Standardize processes
Standardization also supports the standardization of essential business processes, starting with file storage, the use of ERP systems, and specifications for purchasing and sales. In fact, the greatest cause of errors is still human error. A standardized procedure supports the implementation of defined workflows and helps each employee to reflect on the quality of their work. This is the only way employee appraisals can find a solid foundation. If the process is clearly defined, tested, and approved, any deviation becomes immediately apparent. Positive deviations should of course be recognized and implemented in a "Continuous Improvement Process" (CIP), while negative deviations should be corrected promptly and communicated by the manager.
Conclusion
In addition to mandatory ISO standards in certain business areas, voluntary certification offers a variety of advantages, ranging from transparency towards customers and suppliers to the sustainable development of internal quality management. However, the effort involved should not be underestimated and should always be evaluated in relation to the potential increase in sales.
If you need assistance with ISO certification, we will be happy to openly share our experience with you. You can view the certification of the ZELL-Group here. As already mentioned, a modular Part carrier system can facilitate and standardize many processes within your production. We will be happy to advise you on the implementation of your concept and on suitable components for your production process. You can view these online in our standard catalog at any time.
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