Quality Policy
It is the Policy of the Company’s Executive Management, while conforming to the Company’s long-term objectives and requisite, statutory and safety regulations to provide, maintain and improve a reliable and efficient service as well as satisfaction at the highest economic level to/for its Customers.
To achieve this, the Company supports a fully integrated Documented Quality System which is independently assessed by a third party. Ultimate responsibility for the operation of the Quality System rests with the Executive Vice President.
The Documented Quality System ensures that the Company can fulfill contractual obligations by:
- Ensuring that all activities which directly affect the quality of service are carried out under controlled conditions.
- Continuous monitoring and analysis of quality indicators which provide the feedback to enable quality improvement against Customer needs and expectations.
- Providing up to date instructions and training to all personnel together with the promotion of quality awareness.
- Providing the quality framework that enables the Company to meet or exceed the Customers’ needs and expectations.
The Executive Vice President ensures that this policy is communicated, understood, and implemented at all levels in the organization.
PEI QUALITY SUMMARY
Photofabrication Engineering Inc. (PEI) is committed to delivering high-quality products and service to its customers and continuously strives to improve our customer’s procurement experience. As an early adopter of the ISO 9001 and AS9100 Quality Management Systems (QMS), PEI’s implementation of these systems ensure that our customer’s expectations are met. As part of our policy and continued third party registration certification, Quality is a top priority at Photofabrication Engineering. When doing business with PEI you can be assured that:
- We only use experienced and trained personnel to manufacture your products,
- We adhere to our strict internal Quality practices,
- We will fully comply with your flowed Quality requirements,
- We utilize and maintain the latest technology and specialized equipment to achieve the highest Quality for our customers products,
- We embed detailed requirements, internal and customer, into our Manufacturing and Quality Planning documentation,
- We use only calibrated equipment to ensure that your product features and requirements are being met and properly managed,
- We are performance measurement driven and use system, process, and product measurement as the means of determining where we are and where we must go,
- We are good corporate citizens and follow or exceed all local, state, and federal Environmental Health & Safety Regulations,
- We provide high quality products to our customers on-time and always at the agreed upon cost.
Our outstanding quality and delivery have made us leaders in providing chemically machined metal products to companies that require high-reliability products in significant production quantities. From pre-production quality planning, material and outside service procurement, internal production, inspection and testing, and delivery, we are committed to meeting or exceeding your requirements.
PEI QUALITY ASSURANCE AT A GLANCE
At PEI Quality Assurance has been implemented through the adoption and implementation of the AS9100 and ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems. From initial inquiry, through production, inspection, packaging, delivery, and customer service; you can be assured that our QMS completely describes how your requirements will be managed and met. Our assurance of quality begins with understanding your requirements which then cascade, in stages, throughout our many product realization processes.
ISO:9001 – Quality Management Systems — Requirements
The ISO 9001 Quality Management System Standard is an internationally recognized management system standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization. It is a commercial standard recognized worldwide as a benchmark for excellence and commitment to continuous improvement.
PEI was certified to ISO 9001 in the mid-1990’s and has been improving its quality, efficiency, and productivity ever since.
AS9100 – Quality Systems – Aerospace – Model for Quality Assurance in Design, Development, Production, Installation and Servicing
The AS9100 QMS is simply the Aerospace industries version of ISO 9001. It adds some additional requirements that reflect the criticality of doing business within the aerospace industry. PEI was quick to recognize the value of this standard when it was released in 1999 and soon after became certified. Being certified to this standard puts PEI in the forefront of companies providing photochemically machined metal parts and components to multiple industries.
ISO 13485 – Medical Devices, Quality Management Systems, Requirements for Regulatory Purposes
Although we are not required to be certified to this standard at the present time, we are audited on a yearly basis by our device manufacturer customers and pass these ISO 13485 based audits consistently.
MIL-Q-9858 QUALITY PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Although most of our customers have adopted the ISO 9001, ISO 13485, or AS9100 requirements, some of our customers contractually require compliance to this standard. PEI’s Quality Management System is fully compliant with MIL-Q-9858 requirements.
MIL-I-45208 INSPECTION SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Although most of our customers have adopted the ISO 9001, ISO 13485, or AS9100 requirements, some of our customers contractually require compliance to this standard. PEI’s inspection and testing system is fully compliant with MIL-I-45208 requirements.
PEI QUALITY CONTROL AT A GLANCE
PEI knows that a state of control is not a natural state for any process. Left unattended most processes will eventually drift and produce outside of acceptable limits. At PEI our production and inspection planning drive the collection of the needed data to understand and monitor how our processes are truly performing.
We constantly measure and gather product data and compare this data to your requirements. This data acquisition and analysis provides the fuel for our quality improvement efforts.
AS9102 – Aerospace First Article Inspection (FAI) Requirements
PEI routinely performs First Article Inspection in accordance with aerospace requirements. The purpose of our First Article Inspection is to substantiate that all engineering, design and specification requirements are accounted for and meet requirements. Our experienced inspectors and state-of-the-art programmable measuring equipment ensure report accuracy and precision. From simple coordinate dimensioned parts to complex shapes with Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing, we rarely see a configuration that we cannot measure.
Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
PPAP helps us ensure that the processes used to manufacture customer parts can consistently reproduce the parts at stated production rates during routine production runs. PEI fully supports its customer’s requirements for product and process verification and validation. Statistical Process Control, Process Mapping, FMEA, Gage R&R Studies, Control Plans, and Process Capability Analysis are just some of the tools that we use to ensure process stability and capability.
ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 – Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes
As a high-volume manufacturer of production lots PEI uses a statistical attributes sampling plan for the inspection of finished goods. Using the size of the lot and an Acceptable Quality Level (AQL), a sample is selected and inspected against customer and internal requirements. If the results of the inspection meet the requirements of the plan, only then is material shipped to our customers.
MIL-STD-105 – Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes
Although MIL-STD-105 was discontinued years ago and replaced with ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, PEI still has customers that require the use of this statistical sampling standard. See ANS/ASQ Z1.4 for additional information.
MANUFACTURING WORK ORDERS
PEI utilizes Work Orders with detailed instructions to route material through the various operations in our plant. In addition to the expected manufacturing operations quality requirements are also documented in the Work Order. Quality requirements include the features and characteristics that are monitored throughout product realization as well as applicable Quality Control Plans. Special customer requirements are also documented in our Work Orders to ensure that they are managed throughout the product realization process.
QUALITY CONTROL PLANS
All products manufactured by PEI have a Quality Control Plan. In turn, this QC Plan is referenced within our Work Orders so that all applicable PEI team members know the correct plan for the part. Our QC Plans describe the dimension or characteristics to be monitored, the tolerance of the dimension, the sampling plan and AQL to be used, the inspection equipment to be used, and special comments to facilitate understanding of any requirement.
PEI CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AT A GLANCE
LEAN: PEI has adopted Lean as a primary business improvement strategy. All team members, from the president on down, have received Lean Training. Training provided to all PEI team members includes: Introduction to Lean, The 5 Principles of Lean, The 8 Types of Waste, and the 5S Workplace to name some.
SIX SIGMA: PEI retains a Six Sigma Black Belt on its staff who performs product and process statistical data analysis.
SPECIAL PROCESSES (plating, heat treating, screening, etc.): At PEI special processes are carried out under controlled conditions. Plating for precision and microelectronic applications meet NADCAP certification requirements when required by customers. Our in-house measuring and testing capabilities ensure that special processes meet all customer requirements.