News briefs
Brake Fluids business re-certified to automotive quality standard
13/12/2007
The Shell Chemicals Brake Fluids business has secured re-certification to the ISO/TS 16949 automotive quality standard following an extensive assessment by external auditors.
The Shell Chemicals Brake Fluids business has secured re-certification to the ISO/TS 16949 automotive quality standard following an extensive assessment by external auditors.
ISO/TS 16949 is an international standard for first tier suppliers to major vehicle manufacturers. It specifies the quality systems that must be applied to the design, development, production and supply chain for all automotive products, including brake fluids.
"The automotive industry is one of the most demanding and achieving certification to this standard is important because it’s a mandatory condition of business to continue supplying leading car makers in North America and Europe," says Andy Golder, Global Product Manager Brake Fluids & EO-Glycol Ethers.
"The emphasis of this quality system is on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement, and having an internationally recognised standard means we don’t have to undergo multiple assessments by individual customers."
The Shell Chemicals Brake Fluids operation, part of the Ethylene Oxide/Glycols business, was an early signatory to the new standard in 2005 and this year had its first re-certification. Sites and facilities involved in the Brake Fluids business - manufacturing facilities, research laboratories, and sales and administrative offices - had to undergo a three-day audit by external assessors as part of the process.
"The re-certification procedure allows us to demonstrate that issues highlighted in the original assessment have been taken care of, while also testing the potential impact of any subsequent changes in our operations on our quality management processes," says Golder.
He says the outcome of the audit was very positive, with the auditor recognising a number of Shell's key quality management processes as best in class. "As could be expected in such an extensive audit, some areas of improvement were also identified, which are being addressed. This is a positive element of the audits because it helps us to continually improve."
Did you know?
Brake fluids are a derivative of ethylene oxide production. Shell Chemicals DOT 4 advanced brake fluids, marketed under the DONAX* brand name, are specified by a number of major international car manufacturers, including Ferrari, and are also used for service fill purposes by many other marques.