We’ve Upgraded Our Quality and Environmental Standards to the 2015 Versions
We have successfully upgraded our Quality Management System to the revised ISO 9001:2015 version and our Environmental Management System to ISO 14001:2015 version. This is an important step in our ongoing development!
In the new versions of the standards, the importance of leadership commitment has been highlighted. Reform is good because quality and environmental issues are part of the organization, not just production, as many seem to think.
“Engaging the leadership is important because the example given by the leadership increases the activity of the other levels of the organisation. Due to example shown by the leadership, employees’ voluntary commitment to quality and environmental issues is increasing and can spread widely across the organization”, says ST-Koneistus’ Quality Engineer Harri Puheloinen .
In the quality standard update, ST-Koneistus has paid particular attention to process descriptions, which is believed to have a positive impact on, among other things, the homogeneity of products. When the operation is systematic, it is also possible to create valid indicators to monitor the operation.
“The measurement results then tell us whether we are at the right level and help us, if necessary, to make improvements in the right direction. Overall, I think that updating the standards is a good step forward in the path of continuous development”, Puheloinen says.
But he would also like to point out that ultimately the most important indicator is customer satisfaction, and high-quality means that the product and the operation meet the customer’s requirements – or in the best case even exceed them.
“We have introduced materials and methods that will help our products to better withstand wear and tear. At the same time, the coating material itself is even more environmentally friendly.”
In addition to quality, ST-Koneistus is also striving for the best possible customer satisfaction in terms of security of supply, and this issue is given a lot of emphasis at the moment. That is why it is good that the quality standard update also focuses on risk management. For example, the standard is to be used in an anticipatory manner to prepare for personnel illnesses, tools and machinery breakdowns, and problems with material availability.
The new environmental standard, in turn, moves the emphasis from improving the environmental management system to improving environmental performance. ST-Koneistus has taken some concrete actions and developed its energy efficiency and production methods to a more environmentally friendly direction.
“For example, in the surface treatment of hydraulic blocks, we have introduced materials and methods that will help our products to better withstand wear and tear. At the same time, the coating material itself is even more environmentally friendly, Puheloinen points out as an example.”
ST-Koneistus has had its Quality and Environmental Standards audited from year 2008 onwards.
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ST-Koneistus is a Finnish supplier of hydraulic blocks and components specializing in demanding custom production. We manufacture complex components using the most cutting-edge machinery in the business.
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