GE Consumer and Industrial, a division of General Electric (GE), a global infrastructure, media and financial services company has had its ISO 9001 (Quality Management System) certificate renewed by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), through to 2012.
This certification is a tremendous achievement and is proof from an external body of the business's ongoing commitment to quality. "The ISO 9001 certification opens up many doors for GE Consumer and Industrial in South Africa, and is key to our participation in a large number of tenders, including international opportunities in the mining, petrochemical and industrial industries, giving us a competitive advantage," says Ross Boyd, Businesses Leader, GE Consumer and Industrial, South Africa.
According to Boyd, the renewal of the ISO 9001 certification involved a rigorous and meticulous two-part audit by the SABS. "The ISO 9001 certification is critical to GE Consumer and Industrial's operations, as it proves that we have a strong quality management system in place, and that all employees involved in the manufacturing of our products have a clear understanding of that system and how to implement it," says Boyd. "To receive this certification means that a third party has thoroughly examined our processes, and has confirmed that we are working according to the highest, internationally recognised standards. The inspectors are very rigorous, and we have to prove each and every system that has been documented, is being implemented in practical terms."
Based at the GE office in Midrand, Consumer and Industrial are currently engaged in a number of projects for clients in the energy, industrial and commercial sectors. GE Consumer and Industrial spans the globe as an industry leader, with activities which include the development, manufacturing, sales and distribution of light sources, household appliances and electric power protection devices and systems.
"A premium quality management system has multiple benefits to the business," points out Boyd. "Primarily, it is about improving performance input and output from the factory, and operating to save costs by increasing efficiency at all times.
With the whole team synergistically working towards this common goal, it also becomes practical and achievable."
The quality management system involves having a formal quality policy, with documented processes and procedures that each and every person involved in the manufacturing process is able to follow. It is also important to note that this is actually an ongoing procedure. GE C&I also conducted many internal audits prior to the SABS audit, to ensure that all systems were being properly implemented.
"This is a great achievement by the team, but it is principally due to the hard work, commitment and dedication of Manfred Dumfart, the GE Consumer and Industrial Quality Assurance Manager, who completed all the necessary components and led the audit prior to his sudden and untimely passing in July this year," says Boyd.
Says Boyd: "As a GE employee that had been involved with the business historically - since 1968, in fact - Manfred had an intimate understanding of the business processes; and was totally focused on attaining the highest standards of quality achievable. His presence here will be sorely missed, but thanks to the hard work that he put in over the years, and the valuable systems that he implemented, the GE C&I quality management system will be carried out proficiently and capably long after he is gone."
"This is part of his professional legacy, and a testament to the unfailing dedication and commitment he displayed. He made people acutely aware of the importance of quality management and his legacy will live on for many years to come," concludes Boyd.
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About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.
About GE Consumer & Industrial
GE Consumer & Industrial spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliances, lighting and integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. Providing solutions for commercial, industrial and residential use in more than 100 countries, GE Consumer & Industrial uses innovative technologies and ecomagination SM, a GE initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that help customers and consumers meet pressing environmental challenges, to deliver comfort, convenience and electrical protection and control. General Electric (NYSE: GE), imagination at work, sells products under the Monogram®, Profile™, GE®, Hotpoint®, SmartWater™, Reveal® and Energy Smart® consumer brands, and Entellisys®, Tetra®, Vio™ and Immersion® commercial brands. For more information, consumers may visit www.ge.com.
Kendal Hunt