ISO accreditation for Honingcraft
2nd Quarter 2010
News & events
Honingcraft has achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification, aligning quality procedures with international best practice standards and paving the way for company exports. The certification process began in November 2008.
Announcing successful implementation of the ISO standard, quality co-ordinator Ray Wright said that Honingcraft’s decision to embark on the quality improvements had been taken to enable continued delivery of the best possible quality and service to customers. He said that management had placed a strong emphasis on process orientation rather than document orientation.
“We wanted a system that would yield customer satisfaction as the end result and we achieved this by enhancing the effectiveness of our everyday business activities,” Wright said.
“Where a documentation-approach places emphasis on completing a set operation to a predetermined standard, the process mindset focuses instead on the links between the processes and develops a clear understanding that the end product is the result of co-ordinated and co-operative teamwork.
“The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) was the ideal certifying authority for this approach,” Wright said. “The SABS helped us to focus on product quality rather than delivery times, although we found that delivery times automatically improved because of the traceability system.”
From the outset, Honingcraft trained operators in their home language, involved supervisors and translated the quality policy so that all staff could more easily understand the purpose of the changes. Processes were made as ‘visual’ as possible by implementing a system of symbols to indicate the status of parts as either meeting standard, failing standard or still in process.
“There were challenges, but Honingcraft has a very positive team which made implementation quite easy,” Wright said, adding that, “the road to ISO certification had largely been one involving efficiency and communication, including a refining of job descriptions and clear definition of processes”.
“We found the need to set objectives particularly enlightening,” added Wright. “It is through the review of these objectives, by measuring performance against standards and acting on the information obtained, that ISO has added value to Honingcraft.”
Wright said that ISO 9001 would facilitate company growth, making it easier to export and to take advantage of any opportunities for mergers that might arise.
For more information contact Renaldo Barnard, Honingcraft, +27 (0)11 824 5320, [email protected], www.honingcraft.co.za
Further reading:
Hydraulic & Automation Warehouse revitalises partnership with KTR Systems
Bosch Rexroth Africa
News & events
Hydraulic & Automation Warehouse (HAW) has rejuvenated its relationship with KTR Systems, a leader in drive technology, brake systems, cooling systems, and hydraulic components.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: A good servant and a bad master
Technews Publishing
News & events
In our new AI-generated world it was inevitable that the Nobel Committee would have noticed. Now two pioneers of artificial intelligence, John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton, have won the Nobel Prize
...
Read more...
Celebrating 65 years: rebuilding and redefining its legacy
Axiom Hydraulics
Editor's Choice News & events
Founded in 1959 by Neill Simpson, Axiom Hydraulics has grown into one of South Africa’s elite hydraulic companies. Over the past six and a half decades they’ve weathered many challenges, but none as devastating as the fire of 2023.
Read more...
Eskom Expo International Science Fair honours top young scientists
News & events
Excitement filled the air as the 44th Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) opened its doors, welcoming young scientists with an electrifying line-up of activities, including robotics and coding workshops, and riveting science shows.
Read more...
Bolt and Engineering: Blazing a trail of innovation and excellence
News & events
Bolt and Engineering Distributors is proud to have been the Trailblazer sponsor of the 2024 Southern African Institute of Steel Construction Steel Awards, held in Johannesburg in early October.
Read more...
Young robotics team takes world title
igus
News & events
In an inspiring demonstration of innovation and teamwork, Texpand, a young South African robotics team, recently made history by winning the 2024 FIRST Tech Challenge World Championships.
Read more...
Bosch Rexroth Africa announces retirement of COO, Mike Harrison
Bosch Rexroth Africa
News & events
Bosch Rexroth Africa would like to announce the retirement of one of its stalwarts. Group chief operating officer, Mike Harrison will retire at the end of the year. His retirement marks the end of a remarkable career spanning 34 years.
Read more...
Selection of two-port valves: an open and shut case
SMC Corporation South Africa
News & events
Little consideration is generally given to 2-port valves because they are often perceived as simple devices that only open and close to control downstream fluid supply. Although this is mechanically true, choosing the optimal 2-port valve for your application can make a big difference, saving space, weight and energy consumption.
Read more...
MeerKAT radio telescope array
Editor's Choice News & events
Leading consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory practice, Zutari is continuing its involvement with the world-leading MeerKAT radio telescope array, where it has played a leading role since the project first broke ground.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: The weakest link
Technews Publishing
News & events
Lately I’ve been getting an ever-increasing number of articles on cybersecurity in my inbox. It’s easy to put it on the backburner, but there is no doubt that this is a very serious problem that’s not
...
Read more...
printer friendly version