Underpinning its commitment to quality, the powder coating specialist has held the internationally recognised standard since 1994. ISO 9001:2015 encompasses the whole business, from management down to manufacturing procedures. Walking in the steps of a typical Vertik-Al customer the auditors conduct a robust assessment of the entire organisation.
Strategic Approach
This audit was the first since the company revamped its quality management system. In the past year, the powder coater has taken a strategic approach to quality and made considerable effort to identify and manage risk through continuous improvement.
“We have successfully reduced defects using problem-solving methods,” comments, Tristan Pope, technical manager at Vertik-Al. “We are also emphasising the role that data and customer feedback play in highlighting areas for improvement. This has been invaluable. Packing was identified as an area of concern, for example, and changes here have led to greater customer satisfaction.
Changing our QMS
ISO 9001 defines the requirements for a Quality Management System (QMS). While it does not guarantee product quality it does ensure that the processes surrounding the product are controlled and performed consistently.
“This was our first audit since changing our QMS and it was good to have our approach validated. There’s no certainty as to how you will perform under an external audit, especially when going through a period of change and in a challenging economic climate. However, I am pleased to say that with only a few minor observations relating to administration, we achieved a good result.
“Our auditor was very complimentary about our achievements over the past 12 months and how we are developing our quality management system.”
1994 – A Good Year
Changes in the past year include investment in a new vertical powder coating booth, the Cube Grande, the first booth of its kind to be installed in the UK. Coincidentally, Vertik-Al installed the UK’s first ever vertical powder coating line in the same year it achieved its very first ISO 9001 certificate, in 1994. The line was opened by former Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Sir Richard Knowles the man credited for reviving Birmingham.
Upholding Standards
The ISO 9001 certificate wasn’t the only accreditation renewed during in 2021/22. Vertik-Al was also subject to random audits and independent testing to retain valued standards including the QUALICOAT quality label and the GSB quality seal.
Vertik-Al is proud to be one of the UK’s authorised QUALICOAT applicators for paint, lacquer and powder coatings on aluminium for architectural applications and has been QUALICOAT approved since 1994. It is also the only applicator in the UK and Ireland to hold the GSB quality seal, again, for almost 30 years.
See us a FIT Show 22
To find out how your business can benefit from partnering with a certified and approved powder coater, please get in touch. Alternatively, why not pop along to stand E21 at the FIT Show which returns to Birmingham NEC 10-12 May 2022. Vertik-Al will be joined by sister company, IKON Aluminium Systems on the Allumette group stand.
