Choosing the right regulatory testing and compliance service partner can be the difference between a company’s success and failure. That’s why it’s important for manufacturers to be certified from a global network of technical experts.
On Friday, Aug. 14, we received AS9100C and ISO 9001:2008 certification through TÜVRheinland®, a premier global provider of independent testing and certification services. These internationally recognized standards are issued to organizations with proven quality management systems. These certifications from TÜVRheinland®replace our former UL certifications.
What is ISO 9001:2008?
The ISO 9000 standard is based on a number of quality management principles, including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement. The ISO 9000 standards provide guidance and tools for companies and organizations to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer’s requirements and are always improving.
ISO 9001:2008 provides a set of requirements that must be in place to have a certified quality management system, regardless of the organization’s size, product or service line or public or private status. This voluntary certification signifies a product’s safety aspects have been evaluated, tested and approved by a third party, guaranteeing that continuous production control is maintained.
AS9100C?
AS9100 is a widely adopted and standardized quality management system for the aerospace industry, based on the ISO9001 quality system requirements. The certification confirms that companies possess an aerospace quality system that is both consistent and robust, ensuring product, process and service safety, reliability and quality.
Why TÜVRheinland?
We identified several specific market advantages to transferring our ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100C certifications to TÜVRheinland®. These factors included:
- Third-party evaluation. In an independent end-consumer survey, more than half of respondents wanted the advertising statements of a manufacturer to be checked by an independent third-party. Through TÜVRheinland® , that is possible.
- Time and cost savings. Most organizations charge annual fees for their certification or file maintenance, but some can consolidate certifications, which offers substantial cost savings over the life of a product. Additionally, existing UL and CSA certifications may be transferred with ease.
- Generating trust. By demonstrating strengths to customers with documentation of quality management, organizations can improve market access opportunities and gain a competitive advantage.
- Quality assurance. A recent consumer study showed that 88 percent of those questioned want manufacturer’s claims for safety, quality and usability to be checked and confirmed.
These updated certifications will be integral to Apple Rubber’s internal and external operations.
“The ISO 9001 and AS9100 certification are both extremely important to us,” notes John Tranquilli, materials manager, “and listing with TÜV will give us a much better global presence. It provides continuous assessment and improvement to keep our company strong and competitive, and keeps improving the quality, service and on-time delivery to our customers.”
Connect with us
What certifications have you received this year? How has your quality and compliance helped your company gain access into different global markets? Connect with us on Twitter @AppleRubber – we’d love to learn more.