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September 2010
Quality Counts:
 How AS9100 Certification Benefits You
 
       At Harvest Technologies our AS9100B / ISO 9001:2008 quality system is more than a just a certification - it is a mode of operation that undergirds our business philosophy, and a way of life in the workplace.  It enables our organization to operate with maximum efficiency and to provide optimal quality products to our customers on a very consistent basis.
 
       Developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers with cooperation from the ISO technical committee, AS9100 certification fully integrates ISO 9001:2008 requirements with additional constraints.
 


       Jason Morgan, Stereolithography Production and IT Manger, notes that, "AS9100 certification causes us to constantly re-evaluate our products and processes to ensure top quality service offerings that will ultimately provide our customers with an exceptional product."
 
       Harvest Technologies invested nearly one million dollars to gain AS9100B / ISO 9001:2008 certification in March of 2007, and maintain that certification since then.  Initially the decision to pursue certification was made to bolster Harvest as manufacturer of aerospace flight hardware.  However, this robust quality system has greatly benefitted Harvest company-wide.  As a result we are experiencing higher levels of customer satisfaction and substantial growth in our rapid prototyping business segment as well.  Below is a quick look at some of the benefits of our quality system.
 
1.     Requisite excellence
     �         Employees share a unified vision & focus on quality
     �         Robust systems in place to assure repeatability
     �         Results habitually measured, analyzed, and scrutinized

2.     Measured quality
     �         Clearly established quality standards enforced internally
     �         Required adherence to tolerance & finishing specs
     �         Quality control performed throughout the production process

3.     Compressed lead-times
     �         Quoting and manufacturing by push rather than pull
     �         Pre-production communication and planning
     �         Internal grading on lead-time performance

4.     Maximized efficiency
     �         Proactive communication & pre-production planning
     �         Streamlined order routing and workflow
     �         Continuous maintenance and upgrades of machinery

5.     Comprehensive documentation          
     �         "Cradle to grave" documentation and traceability
     �         Flow of critical work instructions throughout production
     �         Effective & safe data storage and management

6.     Error avoidance and continuous improvement
     �         Preventive and corrective actions initiated internally
     �         Outsource supplier compliance and support required
     �         Requirements for continuous improvements in place

7.     Consistency
     �         Employees striving to impress the customer every time
     �         Systems designed to optimize process repeatability
     �         Harvest is a healthy suppler, built to last
 
 
 
Employee Spotlight
 
     Before Harvest's products head out the door, they are subject to a final quality control assessment. These checkpoints allow our inspection team to check for customer specifications including finishing and measurements.
    
     Amanda, a four-year veteran at Harvest, and Chris are the inspectors responsible for the final QC assessment as well as managing Harvest's shipping control center.
 

 
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DID YOU KNOW?
 
Harvest was awarded the Boeing Company's Silver Performance Excellence Award in 2009 as a supplier demonstrating superior execution and product quality.


 
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