Quality Management

Quality assurance has moved from production inspection to total management commitment and responsibility in all aspects of defect prevention. CWM's Quality Management System is ISO 9001:2000 registered, the newest ISO Quality Standard for product design released in 2001. This updated standard represents a complete restructuring of the ISO 9000 Series Quality Standard, aimed at a unified approach among all operating departments to enable more rapid and effective continuous process improvement for product design and production.

Defect Detection at the Earliest Point
Ongoing, plant-wide integration of QA programs at CWM is aimed at detecting and exerting corrective action continuously and at the earliest point. This includes pre-production capability studies; pre-die construction cost-reduction planning, preferably during the part design stages; incoming material QA monitoring; in-process monitoring and SPC to control the manufacturing process; and continuous quality improvement studies.

Plant-wide Statistical Process Control
During the first and each successive casting run, critical measurements are statistically documented. Using SPC, process adjustments can be made before dimensions exceed their predetermined limits. Control charts can be processed on all critical in-plant, as well as vendor, operations.

CWM ISO Electronic Reference
As part of the implementation of CWM's ISO registered quality system, every department has on-line access to the company's own ISO Manual and updated references. This interactive and easily searchable company-wide electronic reference facilitates document control and provides instant availability of updated data to all parties.

Knowledge of ISO 9001:2000 certification, the existence of the company's ISO manual, and the adherence to known and accepted continuing quality requirements and practices frees customers from the burden of their own individual auditing efforts. Lead times for supplier evaluation and production can usually be significantly reduced.

Continuous Training
Qualified, well-trained and motivated people are at the heart of any custom production system. CWM management has been committed to an ongoing, comprehensive and company-wide approach to assuring that its employees are equipped to excel.

Classes are held in-plant and off-site, on company time, in every subject from improving math and communications skills, to blueprint reading, SPC charting, GD&T terminology, ISO-9001:2000 guidelines, and an understanding of all aspects of the procedures which must be followed to prevent defective production and assure quality. These training programs make use of third-party instructors where required. They embrace managerial, sales and engineering personnel, as well as plant employees in all areas.

Planned Supplier Education
Our quality system includes an ongoing vendor education program aimed at assuring the consistent, certified quality of purchased material and post-casting finishing services affecting the final delivered components of CWM to its customers.

The Goal: Meeting and Exceeding Customer Needs
The plant audit by CWM customers is a way of life at CWM, as is our investment in one of the industry's strongest preventative maintenance programs. Every aspect of our management of quality is aimed at meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers.

Return to Top of Page