Quality Assurance
Guttenberg Industries has earned a reputation throughout the industry for superb problem-solving capabilities and outstanding quality.
Guttenberg Industries has earned a reputation throughout the industry for superb problem-solving capabilities and outstanding quality. We understand that high levels of quality are achieved through communication, cooperation, careful planning, and excellent manufacturing practices.
We initiated formal quality recognition in 1997 when we obtained ISO 9002 registration. Three years later we converted to ISO 9001. In 2022, our certification was again renewed for ISO 9001:2015.
Our entire quality system is structured to understand our customers' needs and expectations, to develop and validate processes to meet those needs and expectations, and to continually improve in the areas of cost, consistency, and customer satisfaction.
One of the quality standards that makes Guttenberg Industries’ efforts and practices stand above many of our competitors is our dedication to treating every part that we produce to the same quality thresholds. We follow a strict Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) on each and every manufactured part – regardless of the customer.
This results in two very important outcomes. First, it is clear to our dedicated employees that every part is important to us. There is no special treatment for an automotive part or a large customer’s product – each part and every customer are equally critical to our success. Second, and most importantly to our customers, it ensures that they receive a quality part that they need and want every time they place an order with us.
The Process
Every product we make has a customized quality plan, complete with step-by-step production instructions containing pictures at each step in the manufacturing process. The process actually begins well before initial production runs. During the sampling and approval stages, manufacturing processes are monitored and recorded to establish and/or meet initial cosmetic and measurement specifications established by the customer.
Our dedication to quality took another major step in 2021 with the addition of two optical measuring devices:
Keyence XM Series “NPD Office” is a Hand-held CMM machine that gives us additional versatility allowing measurements to be from points where traditional Bridge coordinate measuring machines and vision-guided machines cannot. It provides highly accurate measurements within ± 3 microns quickly and is easily operated by anyone with minimal training. Additionally, the measurement area is 23.62” wide by 14.96” tall so large parts are easily measured.
Keyence IM Series Machine “Quality Office” is an Optical comparator that can measure multiple measurements across multiple parts at one time. It is a quick and consistent measuring device that is as easy as the push of a button once programmed. This unit is not only an optical comparator but also has a light probe that allows for measurements via touch as well. Measurement accuracy is 2 microns for both the camera as well as the light probe.
Our inspection equipment includes additional video inspection machines, a wide range of classic handheld instruments, and numerous checking fixtures. Every member of our quality assurance staff is also a hands-on expert in production.
Production Quality
Stop by each of our production machines and you will find a binder containing product-specific manufacturing instructions for production workers. These documents are customized in cooperation with the customer for each manufactured part during the new product development process.
Note the details provided to the production team: the Molding Instruction Requirements (MIR) include digital photographs, visual and dimensional acceptance criteria, and product-specific key characteristics and concerns. We strongly encourage our customers to tell us the specific characteristics of each part that is required, both functionally and cosmetically.
With a 24-hour, 5-day-a-week manufacturing operation, our quality assurance team performs routine cosmetic and dimensional inspections around the clock in our fully-equipped Inspection Lab. If it is measurable, we can measure it. Most instruments are equipped with data ports for simple collection of data for records and further analysis.
Statistical Process Control software is used to monitor and detect out-of-specification conditions before developing into out-of-tolerance conditions.
Rest assured that your quality requirements are communicated clearly and diligently throughout our organization, as they are a vital part of our ISO certification process – as well as a key to our ability to maintain superior customer satisfaction with our production of high-quality parts.
Let us show you how we can build quality into your process, too.