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There are numerous subjects related to the word "quality" in the Fiam world. Quality in designing, producing and marketing air tools and industrial tightening systems that help to optimize the customers' production processes. But there's also the quality of work conditions for factory workers: an important goal reached through commitment to safety, correct and thorough ergonomic design of workstations and, not least, an increasing concern for the environment. In this sense, too, the Fiam quality philosophy is expressed through certain specific decisions: in point of fact, back in 1995, the company decided to have its Quality Management system ISO 9001 accredited, later integrating it with an environmental management system, ISO 14001 accredited since 1998.To better understand the value of this "Quality-Environmental policy", we've interviewed Anna Giuliani, Fiam's Quality-Environment Manager.
What does integrated "Quality-Environmental" policy actually mean?
It represents the company's approach and commitment, starting with its Board of Directors, as far as the management of Quality and protection of the environment are concerned. It's a declaration of what are the basic values towards which all company processes and the people bringing them alive must strive, an overall picture of all the improvement objectives that the company sets itself each year.
Why has Fiam decided to certify its integrated Quality-Environmental system?
One reason has to be to highlight our concern with these issues (one of the company's long-standing hallmarks) in the eyes of customers as well as all other external stakeholders. Another is to demonstrate the importance of unflagging efforts in this direction, with concrete results, moving from the fundamental assumption that management systems are not a point of arrival in themselves, but are instead effective instruments for improving your performance from a sustainable development perspective.
So what are the main objectives of this integrated policy then?
It would be more correct to talk about key company efforts rather than objectives: these key points include compliance with all laws and regulations in force; the involvement of personnel; assessment of environmental impacts generated by our activities; prevention of emergencies; and the pursuit of full customer satisfaction on all fronts.
And what are the advantages for the company endeavouring to implement this policy?
Without a doubt greater competitiveness achieved by optimizing all company processes and reducing, if not eliminating altogether, waste of all types of resources, from energy to the human kind.
In what way is this policy instrumental in achieving full customer satisfaction?
The strategic function of this policy lies in its being a point of reference for each person and department in the company. I could describe it as a "summary of values and priorities" to strive towards. In the end, it results in greater efficiency and effectiveness of systems and hence an improved ability to understand and meet customer needs.
What targets has Fiam reached along these lines?
We're proud to say that in these 10 years of certified quality management (and 7 for the Environment), the company has evolved noticeably - from a technological and structural point of view as well as in terms of its ability to respond, both to customer demands and in its protection of the environment.
And what objectives has the company set its sights on for the immediate future?
Continual improvement is the keyword of management systems, as well as being our company's mission: this is why Fiam will continue to measure its performance through appropriate process indicators and will aim to improve them further, living up to and exceeding the customers' expectations without ever neglecting its duty to protect the environment we all live in.
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