SH Firm implements standards of quality management system
By Mary Wright

South Haven- A quality management system that was implemented at a city business this summer has already produced what one company official describes as “remarkable strides” in implementing the system’s standards and guidelines. Double J Molding, a second-tier (sells to an auto industry supplier, which in turn sells their products to companies like Ford, GM and Chrysler) company that makes injection-molded plastics parts for the automotive and other industries, initiated its QS 9000 quality management system in July of this year, with the assistance of consultants from the George S. May International Company of Park Ridge, Illinois.

QS 9000 is an expanded version of a quality management system developed in Europe called ISO 9000, which the American auto industry began using in 1987. under the QS 9000 system, companies adopting its 84 business standards, or sub- elements, can apply for certification by a third- party registrar. Once a company’s policies and procedures meet the system’s requirements and it is certified by a registrar, the QS 9000 certification can be placed on company’s letterhead and building to indicate that it is a business that adheres to a rigorous quality standard.

“Certification allows us to get above the competition and keep our place in the world market,” said Ed Culhane, Chief of Quality Systems Consulting for George S. May International and part of the consulting team that has been working with Double J. Molding on implementing the new quality management system.

Nine years after American automakers imported ISO 9000 from Europe, European automakers like Volvo are considering participating in the U.S. adapted QS 9000 certification process. Where there were 59 sub-elements in the ISO 9000 system when the American automakers began using it, QS 9000, which was unveiled in September 1994, has now been expanded to include 84 sub elements that govern documentation and criteria for improving quality management.

As one step in its quality management process, Double J has generated a quality control manual, documenting the procedures in its production process to endure consistency and to flush out any problems. As part of its quality management system, the company has given key employees the organizational freedom and authority to stop the production process if they identify a problem. Once a company has implement which- ever of the 84 sub-elements it adopts, and improves its production process to the point where it wins certification, in the best – case scenario the adopted improvements become part of the institution and the reforms continue to set a high standard of quality. To insure that quality is maintained, spot checks are done of the companies by the registrar every six months.

“It keeps you honest, and keeps you on your toes,” said Culhane. “You can’t afford to lose your certification – and companies that don’t maintain their improvements do.” Adoption of the ISO and QS 9000 certification processes seems certain to spread throughout the auto industry according to Culhane. “There are 13,000 first-tier companies,” said Culhane. “Just a few months ago, there we’re only 150 that were QS 9000 certified; there are 10,000 ISO 9000 – certified companies in the U.S. and 125,000 overall in 110 countries worldwide. These are standards that level the playing field.”

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