ROWLAND PLASTICS: Staying On Track For Growth With Quality Certification
The Right Place has supported us through starting a new business. They have shared insights and introduced me to local community resources, helping me establish new relationships and connections.
-- Tracy Harper, Business Development Lead
Rowland Plastics (www.rowlandmold.com), a division of Rowland Mold & Machine, is a tool repair shop specializing in plastic injection molding. Located in Zeeland, Michigan, Rowland Plastics operates in an 8,400 square foot climate-controlled facility where they employ 14. Their customers include those in automotive, textiles, military, fiber cable, and recreational areas.
Challenge
With increased supplier demand, Rowland Plastics needed to assure customers that their products would meet all order specifications. In addition, significant customers were requiring Rowland Plastics to be ISO 9001:2015 certified to continue their business relationship. To continue their present period of growth, and realizing they needed to establish a standardized quality management system, Rowland Plastics came to the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center – West (Grand Rapids).
Solution
By way of a supplier and partner relationship, Tracy Harper, Business Development Lead at Rowland Plastics, was introduced to The Center-West for help with the transition to ISO 9001:2015. To accomplish the transition, The Center arranged for the management overview and system development as well as an audit to verify changes to processes were implemented.
Achieving this quality certification enabled Rowland Plastics to maintain current supplier relationships and attract new business. Having documented processes also decreased employee turnover by giving employees clear work expectations. In addition, it has enabled the team to utilize a system for delivering consistent quality parts to their customers.
Results
- New Investment in Workforce: $4900
- Increased Jobs: 9
- Retained Jobs: 5
- Increased Sales: $300,000
- Retained Sales: $20,000