AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Smithers Quality Assessments (SQA), a Smithers Group company and ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredited certification body, celebrated 20 years of continuous ISO 9001 certification today with four clients. Since 1987, when the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published its first quality management standard, the ISO 9000 series of standards has been recognized globally as the framework for a well-managed, customer-focused quality management system.
"As an accredited ISO 9001 certification body, SQA is proud of the 20-year relationship we've had with ML Products, LLC, Specification Rubber Products, Inc., STEMCO, and Struktol Company of America," said Jeanette Preston, President, Smithers Quality Assessments. "We congratulate these companies for their steadfast focus on quality and on achieving certification continuously for 20 years. We thank them for being loyal customers."
The ISO 9000 family of standards addresses various aspects of quality management, contains some of the most well known standards and is the most popular series of standards. Five years after ISO 9001:1987 was established only, 2,059 companies in the U.S. were certified. Today, the ISO 9001 standard is being used by over 1.5 million organizations in 191 countries.
"Over the last 20 years, our SQA auditors have been dedicated to helping us improve our business through ISO 9001 certification," said Blair Downs, Quality/Continuous Improvement Manager at STEMCO. "Our relationship with SQA has helped STEMCO become a better company. Their audits have been very effective and business oriented, with a focus on finding areas for improvement."
"SQA's auditors are committed to helping our clients become more efficient and successful through the certification process," added Preston. "Our customers often report reducing waste, developing more efficient processes and increased customer satisfaction, after achieving certification."
"Now, ISO 9001:2008 is an accepted standard for many manufacturers," said Tony Carson, Technical and Quality Manager at Specification Rubber Products, Inc. "Twenty years ago, achieving certification provided a competitive advantage and helped our company open doors to new business around the globe. Over that period of time, SQA has been a trusted partner and has helped us enhance our processes and performance."
"Our ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certifications demonstrate to our customer base that we are focused on quality," added Downs. "STEMCO's ISO 14001 certification proves to our customers, many of whom are focused on achieving a low impact, more environmentally friendly product, that we are committed to reducing our environmental manufacturing footprint."
"The ISO 9000 process we embarked on 20 years ago helped us create a structure and standard operating procedures, which we needed as a small business," said Don Benedetti, Quality Control Manager at Struktol Company of America. "We've used SQA auditors since the beginning because they have been honest, accessible and responsive to our needs while conducting a comprehensive audit."
"These four companies, in a diverse array of industries, were pioneers, when they recognized 20 years ago that the ISO 9001 certification would be a benefit to their companies," said Preston. "The ISO 9001 certification process guides a company to document processes, discover efficiencies and take a new look at the business. Certification demonstrates a commitment to quality to customers and provides a certain level of trust."
As an early adopter, Tim Morris, President of ML Products LLC, shares that ISO 9001:2008 certification has provided his company with a competitive advantage. "The certification process helped us identify improved systems and create a roadmap to produce high quality products. Our SQA auditors have always been focused on an assessment that helped boost our performance."
SQA World Headquarters
425 West Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44303
www.smithersregistrar.com
About Smithers Quality Assessments
Smithers Quality Assessments is an Akron, Ohio-based, accredited quality and environmental management systems certification body, founded in 1993, serving small and large industrial, commercial, government and services businesses in North America and Europe.
Companies work with Smithers Quality Assessments when seeking certification to the following ISO standards:
ISO 9001:2008
ISO 14001:2004
OHSAS 18001:2007
ANSI/AIHA Z10
CSA Z1000
ISO/TS 16949:2009
AS 9100C
ISO 13485:2003
SN 9001
Please visit www.smithersregistrar.com.
About The Smithers Group:
Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, The Smithers Group includes Smithers Apex, Smithers Avanza, Smithers Pira, Smithers Quality Assessments, Smithers Rapra and Smithers Visicient. Each Smithers Group company provides technology-based services focused on a defined market. As a group, the diversity of market sectors and technologies provides stability and a platform for long-term growth. By integrating science, technology and business expertise, Smithers goal is to add value throughout the life cycle of our clients' products, by utilizing testing, consulting, information and compliance services. All Smithers companies are known by their clients as Trusted Providers of Innovative Solutions. For more information, visit www.smithers.com.
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