‘Just get started and stick with it!’
If you want to deliver top quality, you have to measure yourself against international standards. That's why we regularly undergo rigorous testing by independent auditors. This year, we once again had our wire factory inspected – with success: our IATF 16949 certification remains valid.
In addition, we have obtained new certification in the field of energy management in accordance with the ISO 50001:2018 standards.
Oliver Jost (Head of Quality Management) and Nils Dönges (Project Management) were responsible for organising and supporting the audit. In this interview, they report on how the process went, what the main focus was and what the certifications mean for Finkernagel.
Congratulations on the successful first certification of the energy management system! What role did you play in the process?
Oliver Jost: Thank you. As part of the project, Nils did most of the work on implementing the standard requirements in the energy management system, while I was able to contribute my many years of experience in the field of management systems to the project by helping to interpret individual requirements and integrate them into the existing corporate management system.
Why is this new certification so important for the wire factory?
Oliver Jost: Of course, we have always been concerned with energy efficiency. However, a certified energy management system makes it clearer how the improvement measures we have introduced are affecting energy efficiency. This allows us to make investment decisions based on solid data, which gives us much more confidence in our decision-making.
What advantages does it bring to Finkernagel's customers – and what internal benefits does it have for employees?
Nils Dönges: There is a much greater focus on potential energy waste, which has the advantage for our customers that we can offer our products at competitive prices. Our customers and employees can rest assured that we will continue to be a stable, reliable partner in the market and that jobs at Finkernagel are secure.
How does such a certification process work in concrete terms?
Nils Dönges: The certification process consists roughly of three consecutive project phases. In the first phase, the energy management system is set up in line with the individual chapters of the standard. Identifying significant energy users (SEUs) and validating key figures using the coefficient of determination is one of many steps. In the second phase, the certifier checks the documentation to ensure that all documentation requirements have been met. In the third phase, the actual certification of the system takes place by submitting evidence of correct implementation for all standard requirements, which is then checked and evaluated by the auditor.
Were there any particular challenges or hurdles that had to be overcome?
Oliver Jost: One of the biggest challenges for us was to develop specific key figures that show us the actual energy efficiency of individual processes, regardless of the economic situation. To do this, we had to run through many scenarios to determine the appropriate key figures.
What tips do you have for companies that are just starting their certification projects?
Nils Dönges: As mentioned earlier, we didn't start from scratch and had long since implemented energy indicators such as kW/tonne into our controlling system. For us, the certificate is the ‘icing on the cake’ and we were able to expand and refine our existing system. My tip: The standard provides good guidelines, and if you work your way through the rules systematically, the seemingly impossible task is broken down into smaller tasks. So just get started and stick with it!
Background:
IATF 16949 is the globally recognised quality management standard for the automotive industry and supplements ISO 9001 with specific requirements for suppliers. The aim is the continuous improvement of systems and processes in order to increase product quality, avoid errors and reduce waste in the supply chain. Certification is often a prerequisite for supplying automotive manufacturers and strengthens the market opportunities of companies in the automotive industry.