Dear Members,
Tidd Ross Todd (TRT) is a large New Zealand owned family business built on a rich history of innovation. We operate across multiple sites in NZ and Australia with about 200 staff.
Our business covers distribution of truck and trailer parts, crane sales and servicing, truck and trailer servicing & repairs. We manufacture multi-axle specialist trailers, and the innovative Tidd 28 – an all terrain crane featuring SlewSafe which prevents crane rollover. Many of our manufactured cranes and trailers are sold into Australia.
TRT are considering introducing AS/NZS ISO 3834 – Quality Requirements for Fusion Welding of Metallic Materials – as a special process within our ISO 9001 quality system, to add a more holistic oversight to our welding processes.
There are two reasons for this proposed change:
1. Our own requirements are more sophisticated than they have been in the past and building in weld quality has become vital to our current and new designs.
2. More and more customers are specifying this standard either as a recommendation or a mandatory requirement.
TRT is seeking assistance from within the Best Practice Network and would like to hear from those that have followed a similar path in having introduced ISO 3834.
Particularly we would like to know:
- How long did it take from commencing the process, to having the ISO 3834 system fully integrated?
- What significant changes were made?
- Did you engage a third party to officially accredit your system?
- Has the system cost you more in wages/salary?
- Have you noticed any improvements or gains as a result of the system?
- Were there problems with your welding staff, in introducing the more formal welding process controls?
- Has the transition helped you in securing contracts, which you may otherwise have been marginal or unsuccessful?
We look forward to receiving your feedback, guidance and comments and would also welcome the opportunity to discuss further via email [email protected] or by phone.
Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Gary Webber
Manufacturing Projects Manager
TRT