ILT Fineworks: ISO 9001 certification as a tool to improve quality
Paul Bant has been running the company ILT Fineworks for about 30 years. ILT stands for Industrial Laser Technology. The 1985 founded company engages in material processing using laser technology. Produced are components for companies and organizations in fine mechanical markets, such as those for medical devices, semiconductor manufacturing, defense industry, aerospace, clean technologies, etc. Customers include those in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, United Kingdom and France.
Do you recommend ISO certification to your colleagues?
“That’s something each company has to decide for itself. Your market has to demand it and you have to be ready. When they ask me, “Paul, would you recommend that I become ISO certified?”, I say, “That’s up to you, but if you do it, I know a good party who can help you.”
ILT Fineworks is a small organization; 13 people work here with highly specialized high-tech products. This requires an almost artisanal creativity on the part of the staff. “We sometimes work with very expensive raw materials. From those we make ‘pills’ that are used to fight cancer cells. The substance released in the production process goes back to the supplier, that’s how expensive the product is,” says director Paul Bant.
“If we do certify ISO 9001, then good where the word quality is actually given substance”
“I was very skeptical of it. I saw companies doing it to be able to use it as a marketing tool. I am categorically against that. So I put it off for a long time, until at one point a good customer of ours, made it clear to us that ISO certification would become necessary to remain a supplier. Then I said, if we have to do it anyway, I want to do it well, in other words, substantively and not just as a “stamp on our store. In order to actually improve quality, this concept must also be given substance by people.”
“Initially, we faced resistance. We have a hectic process, hollen or stand still. During the periods of hollering, there was no time to think about improvements. Now you force yourself to do that. And then it turns out that you really benefit. The employees experienced this as well. Resistance has now turned into quality thinking. It is now simply embedded in our organization.”
ISO 9001 certification, a good idea?
“To do it or not to do it depends on the market you’re in. We had to and were ready for it. The step is small then. Sometimes companies just want the system and not the certification. An organization focused on quality improvement. You can do that, too.”
What has changed as a result of certification?
“The employees are now coming up with ideas to further improve quality. I think the growth of the people is the most important result of the whole project. You yourself also look at your company with different eyes. We are all proud of what we have achieved. It is important that you keep thinking further.”
Why Symbol?
“There was a good understanding of what I wanted. No paperwork and long processes. We did get an improvement in terms of content, and even after we were certified, we had a good contact that continued to help and guide us and keep us on our toes. I am someone who enjoys long relationships with people and with organizations that I can trust and work well with. An organization that would continue to support us, even after we had obtained the certificate, that was a rock-solid demand of mine.”
Ambitions?
Those are always there. ISO 13485 could be a next step. In addition, I also want my other company, our sister company, to be ISO certified. Of course, content there as well and not to hang a certificate.”