Control Network Newsletter

CCC Receives ISO 9001:2008 Registration

January 2012 – Contemporary Controls (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. (CCC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Contemporary Controls, received notification in December 2011 from SGS that their quality system has been assessed and certified as meeting the requirements of ISO 9001:2008. Although all the Contemporary Controls' entities follow a quality management system based on ISO 9001, obtaining registration was not pursued until recently. CCC has embarked on a program to expand their original design and manufacturing (ODM) capabilities beyond just Industrial Ethernet networking equipment to include building automation equipment as well. With a rich inventory of proven electronic designs, CCC can design and manufacture networking and control products to the specific needs of its customers. Customers gain a reliable source of supply as well as a quicker time-to-market.

According to George Karones, quality management representative, "ISO 9001:2008 registration provides our customers confidence that are processes are in control and that as a supplier we can meet their quality needs." Contemporary Controls has over a 35 year track record working with control OEMs.

In order to prepare for registration, a compliance team was established with Joyce Xu, Document Control Clerk, as the team leader. Project goals were established and monitored with frequent meetings. An outside consultant was utilized to guide the process and to interpret the ISO standard for the team. However, it was the team that edited the quality manual, developed the required procedures and the eventual work instructions. Although the quality manual is in English, the procedures and work instructions are in both English and Chinese. Once all the processes were mapped, the final documentation, training and internal audits took about nine months before SGS was invited in for the outside audit.

Now that registration was accomplished, CCC must maintain the quality system while confirming continuing compliance with internal audits. SGS conducts surveillance audits once per year.

The complete process was a good opportunity for the CCC associates to improve their team building skills while sharing in the recognition of a successful project. Joyce Xu has become the Deputy Management Representative for CCC now that registration was achieved.