As an independent assessor, DQS presented the management of Haver & Boecker with the DIN 9001 certificate. This is proof that a quality management system has been introduced and is being applied. As an accredited certifier, DQS enjoys a high level of acceptance among customers as a neutral authority. Their certificate confirms to customers that they can rely on consistently high quality standards – while also indicating an improvement in internal processes.
The path to obtaining this certificate – which is subject to regular audits – was challenging and took over two years. The project was supported by a management consultancy, which held workshops to gain an overview, inform managers about the project and take stock of existing processes.
However, many HB employees were also involved – individually and in groups – in order to raise the previous standards so that they correspond to the DQS standard. Motivation fluctuated over the course of the long process, as the benefits of the new approaches were not always immediately apparent. Moreover, the certificate wasn’t granted at the first attempt. The review of the organisation and the corresponding documentation by DQS initially revealed deficiencies in five areas. In a follow-up audit – conducted a good quarter of a year later – these were recorded as eliminated. Everyone involved was delighted with this success, as they knew that this project not only required a great deal of human effort, but also a large amount of money.
