Aim High
In the final analysis, quality boils down to “what will do the job.” This applies to any size or shape or surface finish or hardness, etc. Which is why the end application of a part is of prime importance, and why it’s so necessary for the supplier to know the end use.
“What will do the job” in no way means just sort of getting by. Quality means to aim high, and to make sure the goal isn’t to just meet minimum customer requirements, but rather to aim to surpass them. If each step of the process is performed to the best of the supplier’s ability, quality will find its way into the equation. This applies to any manufacturing process.
To allow for quality to shine in end products, the concept of quality must become a state of mind throughout the process, from raw materials to final parts or products. It must run through a company’s blood, and responsibility for quality must be supported from the C-suite through the shop floor to the loading dock door. In effect, quality must become the way of doing business, and the customer’s satisfaction must be the ultimate goal.
To allow for quality to shine in end products, the concept of quality must become a state of mind throughout the process, from raw materials to final parts or products.
Quality must run through a company’s blood, and responsibility for quality must be supported from the C-suite through the shop floor to the loading dock door. In effect, quality must become the way of doing business, and the customer’s satisfaction must be the ultimate goal.
Implementation of a quality program is not easy. It’s a lengthy process and may, in many instances, best be left to consultants in the field. Accreditation to ISO standards normally requires outside assistance. But whichever path a company chooses to achieve the goal of improved quality, total commitment on the part of everyone in the company is essential. No program will succeed without the backing of top management, and equally without each employee taking ownership for quality and following the guidelines and standards laid down for the best end result. Once a program is underway, and all employees are aware of, and comfortable with, their responsibilities, it will take time and dedication to reach the goal of continual improvement. To reiterate, the goal, of course, is customer satisfaction, and it must be borne in mind that customer requirements change, hence continuing dialogue between customer and supplier is essential.
Quality pays. It pays the supplier in lower rejects, hence increased yield and productivity. It pays the customer because he receives a material he can use with an absolute minimum of rejects. A supplier who knows he has shipped material totally within his customer’s requirements can rest assured that any rejects that might occur during the customer’s operations are not of his (the supplier’s) making. So we have a win-win situation with both supplier and customer producing good material with a minimum of rejects.
In the event suppliers feel that their customers are being somewhat too demanding in their requirements, let them not forget that their customers’ customers may have demands that are even more critical.
AMFG pursues quality with continual improvement as the guidepost in its ongoing quest to provide forged parts with the highest quality in chemistry, physical properties, heat treatment, machinability, soundness, and end-use reliability.
