Kitemark Quality & Another Perfect Score

When the guardian of standards in British commerce and engineering, the BSI, says ‘No problems at HBPW’ it’s time to celebrate another 100% stamp of approval!

The British Standards Institution carries out an annual quality audit on thousands of firms across the country who are privileged enough to display its quality kitemark.

And, while a perfect score may seem like a formality, it isn’t, as Associate Paul Jacklin explains!

He said: “I am where the buck stops as the person with responsibility for quality standards at HBPW and, whilst I know we have some of the most robust systems – and standards – in UK engineering, it never makes our two-day audit any less unnerving.

“However perfect our past record is – and it has been blemish free for years – there’s always that little voice in the back of your head wondering whether the auditor is going to look up and draw your eye to something he doesn’t quite like or agree with!”

Needless to say, Paul ran the gauntlet of fear and passed with flying colours.

“We got the green light once again, however, as you might imagine, the pressure to maintain that perfect record never goes away, a pressure that spills to the entire workforce who are key to implementing, and maintaining, agreed processes, standards and protocols.

“All said, I am delighted by this year’s result and, once again, this 100% audit score is  testimony to everyone’s hard work. I am merely the facilitator.”

The firm developed its own quality assurance scheme several years ago but this has now evolved to closely align itself with the exacting standards and criteria of ISO9001:2015.

“ISO provides for the simple integration and unification of quality procedures demanded by clients such as Network Rail and Electricity Alliance, and, by aligning our own processes to those of ISO in recent years, HBPW continues to ensure that adequate experienced and well-trained resources are always available to ensure that designs and details are delivered on time and to programme constraints,” added Paul.