Not only in the chemical industry is quality assurance a buzzword, but an absolute necessity. Not a luxury, not a nice-to-have: it is an integral part of the service we provide. The industry is complex, highly regulated and the demands on the quality of products and services are very high. One mistake can not only have financial consequences, but can also permanently shake customer confidence. So how do you navigate this minefield and ensure that all processes and products meet the highest quality standards?

Our approach: The triad in quality management.

Certifications as a foundation:

Certifications are a nice piece of paper. Time on the wall. Sometimes in the drawer. Or? 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. You know that our products and services meet the highest standards. We even have other certifications in the group, such as QS at IMagine.

As a refresher: GFSI, GMP+, ISO 9001 and QS

Let’s start with GFSI, the Global Food Safety Initiative. This initiative sets globally established 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 to use them as a benchmark for our own processes.

GMP+ stands for Good Manufacturing Practices and is specifically focused on the feed sector. This certification ensures that all our feed products and services 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 design our processes so that they are not only efficient, but also resistant to errors. It enables us to continuously monitor and improve the quality of our products and services.

The German QS system is a mutual recognition of GMP+ and is specifically aimed at the animal feed sector. This certification ensures that all of our feed products and services meet the highest quality requirements. Within the Cofermin Group, the GMP+ and the QS system are used to meet the requirements of our customers.

KPIs as a measurement 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, in the final instance, sales, enable us to respond proactively to problems and implement effective solutions. By using various KPIs, we are able to implement a systematic continuous improvement process and thus prove that our quality continues to improve over time.

 

Resources as the key:

In our view, quality assurance is not a one-person job. It requires a team of qualified professionals as well as 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 watchword:

The demand for quality continues to rise globally. While previous generations of managers focused primarily on the end product or service, the trend has clearly shifted toward process quality. Even products such as the paper handles for lollipops or cake pops are subject to strict quality controls at our company and are certified accordingly. This is how we ensure that every element in our supply chain meets quality standards.

Technology as a supporter of quality assurance:

From my point of view, latest technologies should be used in order to guarantee quality. However, this does not 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 ensure that all processes are in line 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 is precisely this personal transformation that has opened my eyes: Processes and order make life, as well as daily work preventively easier. If you are specifically interested in our measures in terms of KPIs and quality or our certifications, I would be happy to talk to you personally.

Andrea Grenzel

Andrea Grenzel

QMB / Quality Assurance Manager

I’m Andrea Grenzel and I’ve been working at COFERMIN Chemicals in Essen for five years. I have been leading quality management for this part of the COFERMIN Group for a year. My career began in human resources and took me through various areas such as materials management, production planning, customer service and EHSQ management. This comprehensive body of knowledge results in my current focus on continuously improving our quality processes, especially in the food and feed sectors. With expertise in ISO 9001, IFS Broker and Gmp+, I am your contact for all questions relating to quality assurance.