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 producing products with outstanding quality. However, the real quality is first of all purely subjective to the manufacturer and of course also dependent on a multitude of factors. The international ISO certification standards help with comparability. That is why we at the ZELL Group also subject our processes to regular audits, 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 "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 commission
Our own workpiece carrier system within the ZELL Group has contributed significantly to quality management (QM) since its introduction. Due to the easy accessibility to each individual workpiece, 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 company processes. Starting with file storage, through the use of merchandise management systems, to specifications for purchasing and sales. In fact, the biggest cause of error is still people themselves. A standardized approach supports the implementation of defined work processes and helps each employee to reflect on the quality of his or her work. Only in this way can employee appraisals find a sound basis. When the process is clearly defined, tested and approved, any deviation becomes immediately apparent. Positive deviations should of course be rewarded and implemented in a "continuous improvement process" (CIP), while negative deviations should be corrected promptly and communicated by the manager.
Conclusion
In addition to required ISO standards in certain business areas, voluntary certification offers a variety of benefits. Starting with transparency towards customers and suppliers up to the sustainable development of an internal quality management. The effort involved should not be underestimated and should always be evaluated in relation to the potential additional turnover.
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 workpiece 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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