ATTENTIVE INDUSTRIES: Maintaining Quality Certification in a Time-Crunch
The Center gave us the tools we needed to get through the IATF 16949 Certification Audit in a very short period of time. We were very happy with the results!
-- Brien Lord, Vice President
Founded in 1994, Attentive Industries (www.attentiveindustries.com) is a Tier 1 automotive supplier primarily engaged in manufacturing sheet metalwork products. Located in Flint, Michigan, Attentive Industries maintains strong relationships with clients through their ongoing commitment to understanding and satisfying customer requirements. Due to their history of providing products that are right the first time, delivered on time and offered at competitive prices, General Motors has named Attentive Industries ‘Supplier of the Year’ four out of the last five years.
Challenge
In August 2017, management at Attentive Industries attempted to recertify their TS 16949 Certification. Their Registrar then informed them that not only did they have to certify themselves under the new IATF 16949 Standard, but they also must prepare for the upcoming Registrar Audit starting in late October of 2017. The Center was contacted to assist with an IATF Organizational Transition and IATF 16949:2016 Internal Auditor Training to prepare for the October Registrar Audit.
Solution
Due to a compressed timeframe, Attentive Industries had a small window in which to begin new operational documentation metrics and prepare for the audit. Through four days of training, The Center brought their Quality team up to speed on the changes and new requirements of the revised standard. This included a review of their existing QMS to determine where non-value added internal requirements could be removed to provide a more robust and practical QMS. The Center provided an updated Quality Manual template to demonstrate the application of the new standard to the company’s existing QMS. This application showed the Quality staff the proper balance between internal auditing and management review under the new standard, which emphasizes greater management involvement in the QMS process. This enhanced understanding resulted in only a few minor nonconformances in their October Registrar Audit, allowing Attentive Industries to receive their IATF 16949 Certification.
Results
- Retained Sales: 100% of all Tier 1 Sales
- Jobs Retained: 35
- Cost Savings: $10,000
- New Investments: $20,000