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CORUS AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESSES ACHIEVE ISO/TS16949 QUALITY STANDARD
Corus Strip Products UK and Autolaser Technologies are major suppliers to the automotive industry. The two Corus businesses join the company’s aluminium extrusions operation in Duffel, Belgium, which also recently acquired ISO/TS 16949:2002 approval. As one of the first European automotive suppliers and one of the first steel companies in the world to achieve this standard, Corus has underlined its commitment to provide the highest quality products and services that meet the exacting requirements of its automotive customers. Until recently car manufacturers focussed on their own quality standards. TS 16949:2002 is a breakthrough in the automotive industry in that it represents a consensus amongst most of the world’s largest car makers and is a starting point in the harmonisation and globalisation of designer specified standards. Aimed primarily at tier one suppliers TS 16949:2002 is a technical specification developed and supported by vehicle manufacturers in Europe, America and Japan and will help define quality system requirements for the global automotive supply chain. The new ISO/TS 16949:2002 standard builds on the international ISO 9001 quality standard, which was developed for the efficient management of an organisation based on the recognition and understanding of its main processes. However, unlike ISO 9001, TS 16949:2002 goes one step further with statistical performance indicators which provide management with a practical tool for continuous improvement, with an emphasis on defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. As a major supplier to the automotive industry, working to quality systems has been a way of life,” comments Bill Gibson, technical manager, quality assurance, Corus Strip Products UK. Historically, we have had to undergo multiple international automotive customer assessments which take up a lot of man-days and resource with external audits. Mr Gibson continues: The time and cost benefits to Corus of achieving a single, internationally recognised quality standard is obvious. Importantly for our customers, having to meet third party approval through the TS 16949:2002 standard means that our automotive and other customers can be assured that the quality management systems operating within Corus meet the most stringent requirements removing the need for them to undertake further second party audits. In order to maintain approval, Corus will undergo two assessments and audits annually which will be conducted by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance. A number of other Corus businesses are currently working towards obtaining TS 16949 certification. These include Corus’s Automotive Service Centre in the West Midlands and specialist pressworker, Corus Europressings, in Cardiff, which aim to attain accreditation by the end of 2003. Quality Assurance commented after the audit of Corus Strip Products UK: 'Getting approval to ISO/TS16949: 2002 is a demanding task. Members of the audit team were very impressed with the people, processes and systems operating within Corus. We wish everyone well for the future'.
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