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France-based Lapierre has announced it now has ISO 9001-2008 certification.
Lapierre has a major assembly line in its historical base of Dijon and the certification can now be applied to all product produced there. The brand worked throughout 2014 to obtain certification and an audit in December by UTAC found Lapierre was conforming to the high standards of the auditors.
Performance indicators were defined for each department, in order to carefully follow all work carried out in Dijon. The auditors had numerous points to check: production process formalities; internal procedures; management and control of the production line; the putting in place of preventative and corrective actions.
What does the certification actually mean?
Lapierre explains: "The final objective is the guarantee of excellence for our products and services in order to ensure a continuing improvement. The actions put into place have already had an impact on our services.
"This was also an opportunity to reinforce the quality control systems. A new coordination between R&D, Product Management and our Suppliers has been put into place.
"We are committed for the long term, in order to ensure the toughest quality control and best possible customer satisfaction."
According to Lapierre, this new certification guarantees :
• Conformity of our products & engagements
• Client satisfaction
• Employee satisfaction
• Longevity of our company
Lapierre’s MD, Gilles Lapierre added: “Achieving certification is the first step in a process of continual improvement. In the long term working practices will evolve throughout the entire organisation to ensure that ever higher standards of quality and customer care are met. This is our guarantee to you that Lapierre products will continue to be produced to the highest standards of quality.”
The certification is also a strategic tool that enables Lapierre to reduce costs, diminish potential errors and improve productivity and reliability, the firm added.
