Inkjet & Digital Printing

Stratasys implements total quality management system; receives ISO 9001: 2008 Certification

Friday 04. February 2011 - Drive to improve quality is rooted in lessons learned from mistakes in early years

(NASDAQ: SSYS) Stratasys Inc., maker of additive manufacturing machines for prototyping and producing plastic parts, today announced it has received ISO 9001: 2008 certification.
ISO 9001: 2008 provides a structure for a quality management system that strives for customer satisfaction, consistent quality, and efficiency. “Our new quality management system gives us a foundation to grow capabilities and sales in direct digital manufacturing,” says Stratasys Chief Operating Officer Tom Stenoien. “And receiving this certification sends the message that we’re serious about supporting production market segments, such as the aerospace, defense and medical industries, by implementing a formal quality management system that is supported by an internationally recognised standard.”
Stratasys says its drive to improve quality is rooted in lessons learned in its early years. “Earlier in our history we had a system that was released to the market prematurely,” says Stenoien. “The product didn’t perform as well as it should have. We disappointed customers, and we spent a lot of money rectifying the problem. It was a tough lesson to learn, but after the experience, we became determined to never let it happen again. The experience set us on a course of continuous improvement that continues today. “
Studies have found that ISO 9001: 2008-certified firms outperform their control group. They have also found the initial investment is exceeded by the benefit of increased international trade and domestic market share. In addition, there are internal benefits such as improved customer satisfaction, interdepartmental communications, work processes, and customer-and-supplier partnerships.
Enterprise Minnesota, a non-profit business consulting organisation that helps manufacturing companies in Minnesota implement business solutions, was the primary consultant for the ISO 9001: 2008 efforts.