AQS -- AL-KO quality and safety "Total Quality Management" -- a keyword often quoted in connection with modern management. What does "Total Quality" mean in detail for AL-KO? What role does quality assurance play in our corporate philosophy? AQS goes far beyond the manufacture of perfect, flawless products. See for yourself how comprehensively the AL-KO Group defines its guiding principle on quality and safety: Satisfied customers High-quality products, a wide range of services and friendly customer support ensure customer satisfaction in the long run. People who decide to buy AL-KO products, systems or accessories must not be disappointed. This necessitates, among other things, that we listen to the consumers, irrespective of whether they are criticising or expressing wishes for improvements. After all, we depend on our customers to be faithful to our brand. This ensures a good supply of orders and thus safeguards our jobs. Besides: according to our philosophy, we also consider colleagues as customers or suppliers! Efficient work processes When purchasing new production facilities, AL-KO makes sure that these are cost-effective. Older facilities and plants are retrofitted where necessary. With the help of modern IT systems AL-KO Geräte GmbH has been able to re-organise its inventory management such that today 50 to 80 per cent more orders than before are processed within one day. Specialists of the AL-KO logistics centre recognise bottlenecks and excess capacities early on. After all, professional project management results in a profitable competitive edge. Manufacturing processes are simulated by means of CAD systems. Flexible working hours, which were introduced as long ago as 1992, balance seasonal variations in the number of incoming orders. And AL-KO has improved its spare-parts service to such an extent that now each part requested reaches the client within two to three days! Low costs Cost minimisation is an important key to competitiveness. Avoidable material and energy waste increase production costs unnecessarily. For this reason, AL-KO follows a consistent policy of intelligent cost-cutting measures without allowing product quality to suffer. A new robot welding facility, for example, permanently reduces transfer and transport costs, modern IT systems make stockkeeping as cost-effective as possible, and a particularly economical cooling system was installed at the Ichenhausen site. In addition, AL-KO purchasers are price-conscious and place their orders at the right time. Early certification It is becoming increasingly evident that, in future, no industrial company will remain competitive unless it is certified as per ISO 9000 to 9004. This applies all the more to internationally active companies such as AL-KO. The AL-KO quality assurance system was awarded a certificate as per DIN ISO 9001 by the Landesgewerbeanstalt Bayern (State Trade Office of Bavaria) as early as December 1993, and AL-KO's Obdach plant [Obdach sites] was the first Austrian manufacturer of gardening and DIY products to be awarded a certificate as per ISO 9001. Of course, things do not end with certification alone: every three years the companies must be re-certified. Successful audits reassure customers and suppliers alike that quality management is functioning properly. Regular follow-up training Rapidly changing landscapes both in the economy and in society in general demand that individuals be highly willing to learn -- and this for their entire lifetime. AL-KO College [College homepage] has therefore been established for technical training and the teaching of management skills. It ensures that the professional know-how of all employees is up to date. With its broad spectrum of practice-oriented seminars, discussions, workshops and training courses, AL-KO college offers all employees, from trainees to managers, the ideal opportunity to participate actively and independently in their own follow-up training. Intensive follow-up training is our chance for the future! Continuous improvement Be it manufacturing, marketing, logistics, internal communication or customer friendliness – there is no aspect which cannot be optimised. AL-KO employees are constantly finding new ways to leave well-trodden paths and to search for better solutions. The corporate suggestion system is just one way. A steering committee set up especially for the purpose looks for efficient ways to implement improvements. In some cases, ideal practical solutions are found by scientists in cooperation with AL-KO employees. Experts of the Technical College of Augsburg, for example, developed new marketing strategies for suction/extraction systems. Regular participation in technical trade fairs and exhibitions is the most natural thing in the world for AL-KO. Common objectives Loyality towards one's colleagues and team spirit rate very highly at AL-KO. Shared pleasure in business successes, understanding for others, honesty in dealing with colleagues and targeted support for junior staff create a good working atmosphere. One example: when in March 1998, a production bottleneck in lawn mower assembly became apparent, office staff voluntarily helped out in the assembly unit for two work days. Team spirit and flexibility are in special demand at AL-KO, since the group operates worldwide and people from very different cultures have to work together -- from Brasil to China. Careful decisions Technical knowledge alone is not sufficient to make important decisions on behalf of modern industrial companies. Orientational talent is also necessary to understand the complex relation between operational processes. Otherwise there is the risk that knowledge acquired might be applied without considering the situation on hand, without taking into account all possible consequences and, that one might be made responsible. The courses held at AL-KO College [College homepage] provide our employees with an ideal combination of technical training and orientational talent. Conforming products AL-KO strives to achieve "zero defects" in manufacturing -- an ambitious goal. Robot-controlled, highly accurate manufacturing systems and the use of 3D-CAD help us to reach this goal. Every employee is aware of the fact that poor quality must be nipped in the bud because reworking is expensive, inefficient and makes it difficult to deliver on time. In addition, employees become frustrated, customers disappointed, and raw materials and energy are wasted.