As a leader in the fabrication industry, the simple promise we make to you is to produce high volumes of quality products safely, efficiently and in a timely manner. One of the ways we keep that pledge is to follow the quality guidelines of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The ISO 9001 family of standards ensures that products and services are of high quality and are always subject to continuous improvement. We have used these guidelines as a benchmark since we passed our first ISO 9001 audit in 2004.

All ISO standards are reviewed every five years to see if revisions are necessary to keep them current and relevant for the marketplace. We are pleased to announce that Laser Precision is now certified for ISO 9001:2015, the most recent update.

What It Means For You
The ISO standards help organizations develop, manage and control everything from processes and products to services and systems. These guidelines satisfy specific requirements in areas such as quality, safety and efficiency. One important aspect of ISO 9001 is its process-oriented approach. Instead of looking at a company’s departments and individual processes, ISO 9001 requires that a company look at “the big picture.” How do processes interact? Can they be integrated with one another? What are the important aspects of products and services? These are all vital questions that impact our ability to keep our quality and delivery up to par.

ISO 9001:2015
Earlier versions of the ISO 9001 standards contained many requirements for documenting procedures and records. The 2008 edition concentrated more on managing processes. Both of these approaches were helpful in fine-tuning our quality best practices. The 2015 revision adds another dimension, focusing on a more systematic way of considering risk. This methodology makes the new version more of a living document rather than a series of check-the-box lists.

“By focusing on opportunities and threats, ISO 9001:2015 pushes the vision of the company forward,” said Quality Manager Matt Keller. “This makes the certification process a better tool for our continuous improvement program.” The scope of the guidelines has also expanded. Language has been added to enhance the satisfaction of all “interested parties.” These can be customers, vendors or even workstations upstream or downstream of a particular operation. “We have achieved this by combining the process approach with risk-based thinking, and by employing a ‘Plan-Do-Check-Act’ cycle at all levels in the organization,” Keller added.

The Certification Process
In order to achieve certification, an accredited third-party (in our case, Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc.) must verify that the requirements are met via an audit process. An official certificate is issued only after successful completion of the audit and a pledge to maintain the standard’s requirements for continuous improvement.

“The ISO standards are a perfect complement to our own rigorous internal protocols,” said Cameron Adams, Laser Precision’s Sales & Marketing Manager. “Certification provides tangible evidence to both current and potential customers that we are dedicated to quality, and have taken the time to build and maintain a ‘zero defect mentality’ within the company.” 

If you would like to learn more about how our ISO 9001:2015 certification can add value to your operations, please contact us.