In 2020, ETMA is pleased that its three main certifications have been renewed:
- ISO 9001:2015
- IATF 16949:2016
- ISO 14001:2015
This is another proof of the company’s total commitment to its customers and the markets where it operates, maintaining the effort in investing in this type of certifications. The principles of this commitment are several, among which stand out:
- Focus on customer satisfaction
- Continuous improvement
- Leadership and people engagement
- Approach process
- Risk analysis approach
- Multidisciplinary approach
As benefits, in addition to the recognition in the national and international markets, and the attestation that it complies with the requirements, mostly mandatory, of its customers, ETMA also points out the simplification of the processes, a better cost management, flexibility, and a better risk management that, in the specific case of IATF 16949, allows anticipation and better preparation to deal with unexpected situations.
Quality Management Standards
To guarantee the quality of the parts produced, ETMA has a quality management with a specialized team, and the entire organization is certified by the ISO 9001: 2015 and IATF 16949:2016 quality management standards. All inspection data is centralized on a server with immediate analysis by SPC (Statistical Process Control) – EGITRON.
The formal recognition of ETMA’s Quality was achieved for the first time in 1993, becoming at that time the 100th company at national level, and the 1st in the district of Braga, to obtain the certification according to ISO 9001:2000 standard. Since then, ETMA has guaranteed the continuous renewal of this certification, a result of the permanent sense of responsibility towards its business partners.
In 2010, it obtained IATF 16949:2016 certification. A standard that came to replace ISO/TS 16949:2009, whose objective is to update specific car requirements, bringing it in line with the most recent ISO 9001 standard for the Quality Management System. It was, therefore, a transition that allowed ETMA to harmonize the different assessment and certification systems in the global automotive supply chain.
Helga Matos, Quality Director, underlines “the importance of this type of certifications in the market in which the company operates”, in order to meet the expectations of customers who “expect a timely response from the supplier in the order’s fulfillment, always with the required quality”.
In this context, “for ETMA it will always be an advantage to maintain its certifications, allowing not only to give more confidence to the customer”, but also “to allow its entry into new markets, outside the European context, where geographically, the commitment of competitors to be certified is less developed, thus creating a greater competitive differential”.
On the other hand, “it is not only customers who value the certification, when obtaining quality products”, ETMA also “benefits from this whole system in everything related to processes and procedures that, when applied, allow to achieve the production of a ‚compliant product‘ and ‚compliant shipping’”. Ultimately, it results into “customer satisfaction”, says Helga Matos.
Environmental certification
Also, the ISO 14001:2015 environmental certification, achieved in 2009, demonstrates how ETMA fits into sustainability and environmental impact control actions.
ETMA is thus able to identify the opportunities and threats that the environment presents, guaranteeing, in addition, that the products supplied follow the quality and sustainability requirements of the client.
According to Carla Rodrigues, Environment Director, “the environmental certification represents an investment highly valued by our customers, while revealing the company’s concern for the future”.
“What really motivates us to achieve this official recognition is the legitimacy and competitive advantage that this type of certification represents in the market”. Without undervaluing that, “from a financial point of view, it is also beneficial for ETMA, as it also means medium and long-term savings for the company, through the optimization of its resources and the control of legal aspects”, adds Carla Rodrigues.
In conclusion, being recognized in the national and international market as a reference company for the excellence of its services has been, throughout its 80 years of existence, one of ETMA’s missions. Therefore, aware of the requirements of the metallurgy and metalworking industry, it will continue to work extensively to improve its quality and efficiency standards, prioritizing not only the certification systems, but also innovation, knowledge, technology and, of course, the relationship with its business partners.