The triad of quality management.
Quality assurance is not just a buzzword in the chemical industry, but an absolute necessity. It is not a luxury or a nice-to-have: it is an integral part of the service we offer. The industry is complex, highly regulated, and the quality requirements for products and services are very high. A mistake can not only have financial consequences, but also permanently undermine customer confidence. So how do you navigate this minefield and ensure that all processes and products meet the highest quality standards?
Certifications as a foundation:
Certifications are a nice piece of paper. Sometimes on the wall. Sometimes in a drawer. Right? For us, they are a promise to our customers, to you! At COFERMIN Chemicals, we rely on a wide range of certifications such as GFSI, GMP+, and, of course, ISO 9001. These certifications are not only proof of our quality, but also an advance of trust and transparency to our customers. They know that our products and services meet the highest standards. Within the group, we even have additional certifications, such as QS at IMagine.
Let’s start with GFSI, the Global Food Safety Initiative. This initiative sets globally recognized standards for food safety. As a unit in the food and feed sector, it is essential for us not only to meet these standards, but also to use them as a benchmark for our own processes.
GMP+ stands for Good Manufacturing Practices and is specifically geared towards the feed sector. This certification ensures that all our products and services in the feed sector meet the highest quality requirements. It is an intensive program that is recognized worldwide.
ISO 9001 is the best-known standard for quality management systems and serves as our overarching set of rules, under which all other certifications are subsumed. ISO 9001 helps us to design our processes in such a way that they are not only efficient but also error-resistant. It enables us to continuously monitor and improve the quality of our products and services.
The German QS system is mutually recognized with GMP+ and is specifically geared toward the feed sector. This certification ensures that all our products and services in the feed sector meet the highest quality requirements. Within the Cofermin Group, the GMP+ and QS systems are applied to meet the requirements of our customers.
KPIs as a measuring tool:
Quality assurance is a dynamic process that requires constant monitoring and adjustment. To ensure this, we rely on various key performance indicators. These KPIs, such as the review of complaints and, ultimately, sales, enable us to respond proactively to problems and implement effective solutions. By using various KPIs, we can implement a systematic continuous improvement process and thus demonstrate that our quality continues to increase over time.
Resources as the key:
In our view, quality assurance is not a one-person job. It requires a team of qualified professionals and the necessary financial resources. At COFERMIN, we take this seriously and invest in the further training of our employees. We systematically ensure that sufficient resources are available for quality assurance.
Quality is the way forward:
Global quality standards continue to rise. While previous generations of leaders focused primarily on the end product or service, the trend has shifted significantly toward process quality. Even products such as paper sticks for lollipops or cake pops are subject to strict quality controls and are certified accordingly. This ensures that every element in our supply chain meets quality standards.
In my opinion, you should rely on the latest technologies to ensure quality. However, this doesn’t always have to be rocket science: at COFERMIN, for example, we use a file server on which all QM documentation is stored. This enables all employees to access important information at any time and ensures that all processes comply with our quality standards.
For me, quality has become an integral part of my life. That may sound surprising, because by nature I am a rather chaotic person. But it was precisely this personal transformation that opened my eyes: processes and order make life and daily work easier in a preventive way. If you are particularly interested in our measures regarding KPIs and quality or our certifications, I would be happy to discuss this with you personally.
