ISO 9001 for laser cutting specialist

Laser cutting specialist Subcon Laser has achieved certification against ISO 9001:2000, after a successful assessment by SGS United Kingdom

Laser cutting specialist Subcon Laser has achieved certification against ISO 9001:2000, the internationally recognised quality management systems standard.

The firm received its certificate from Councillor Geoff Ashford, the Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth, in March 2003 at a special ceremony at the company's Nuneaton premises.

The award follows a successful assessment by SGS United Kingdom Ltd.

"In our industry an ISO 9001 certificate awarded by a UKAS-accredited assessor is seen very much as a minimum requirement," says Tom Mongan, General Manager of Subcon Laser, whose clients include BMW, Rover, GKN, Jaguar and JCB, "The development of the quality system has not only allowed us to benchmark our procedures against internationally recognised best practice but also gives us the framework to ensure continuous improvement.

ISO 9001:2000 is an internationally recognised quality management system standard developed by the International Organisation of Standardisation (ISO).

In 2000 it replaced the previous standard, ISO 9000 (1994) and now provides greater focus on 'the customer', the service sector, continuous improvement and management responsibility.

Tom says he found the most striking difference in the 2000 quality standard to be the amount of top level input required: "In the past the responsibility for the development and maintenance of a quality management system could be left a the firm's quality manager," he explains, "The 2000 standard demands visible and traceable participation from top management and even board level.

Since its formation in 1989 Subcon Laser has become one of the UK's largest laser cutting service companies.

The firm, which now employs 35 full time staff at its premises in Nuneaton, has a range of laser machinery to cut a variety of materials from stainless steel and aluminium to brass, wood, acrylic, plastic titanium and even armoured plate.

The company claims to be the first in its field to offer a one hour rapid response quotation.

SGS United Kingdom Ltd is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to carry out assessments and issue certificates against ISO 9001:2000 as well as a number of other management system standards such as ISO 14001 (environment), ISO IEC 17799 (information security) and OHSAS 18001 (health and safety).

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