Saturday, January 18, 2014

Increase Customer Confidence Gain ISO Certification Using An AS9100 Consultant

By Judy Sullivan


Management has traditionally experienced a rise and fall of so call fads in the search for the ideal way to run a successful business. The quality movement had a similar cycle with an initial near-fanatical implementation followed by a fading of the excitement. But maintaining the focus on quality management is difficult, and while most believe in it wholeheartedly, need an as9100 consultant to continue to stay on track.

The driving force behind the quality movement in the United States was the successful introduction of foreign products that were becoming increasingly more desirable to Americans than domestic products. Aided by the demand for smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles in the wake of the oil crisis, Japanese cars rapidly gained market share, and so did stereo equipment and televisions. The superiority of American manufacturing was under threat.

Ironically, the source of the successful transition in Japanese production a reputation for poor quality to benchmark ranks came from two American management experts who had been largely ignored in their homeland. Doctors Deming and Juran worked with the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers to establish a nation-wide approach to manufacturing and service delivery. They proposed management that worked closely with workers and a statistical approach to operations.

Throughout all the various ways to implement a focus on quality there is a central theme that has fundamentally changed the definition of quality and the method for incorporating into a business. It is the notion that quality is defined by the customer, and consistency in product or service is the implementation key. While consistency alone does not yield quality, a quality product or service must be produced consistently.

The international community also had a vest interest in ensuring products and services were acceptable to all consumers, to facilitate a growing international trade. This began with an organization charged to develop guidelines to help manufacturers and service providers with a guide. The release of ISO standards in 1987 marked an internationally accept set of guidelines for manufacturing products and delivering services.

In industries like aviation, which enjoyed a great reputation for safety, standardization was essential for competition between carriers. All flying operations were conducted by checklist, ensuring consistent operations internationally. Support functions, however, were conducted independently in each country, with greatly varying processes, and the performance of these functions could greatly impact flight operations.

To take this operation to the next level requires an analysis of every process involved not only with an eye for efficiency, but with a plan to understand, anticipate and implement what the customers want. Aviators concern themselves with on time takeoffs, but consumers may be more interested in on time landings.

Gaining certification under ISO criterion requires a dedicated approach to company wide analysis, a will to change what is necessary and a vigilance to maintain the level of performance. Ensuring compliance with all the requirements of the standard, implanting change while operating the business can be difficult. Engaging with an as9100 consultant can make the certification process a straightforward successful effort.




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