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Universal Polymer & Rubber is TS16949 Certified

A few weeks back we achieved TS16949 Certification from the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG). This certification is a standard recognized the world over. Here’s how AIAG defines it:

The goal of this technical specification is to develop a quality management system that provides for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and reduction of variation and waste with in the supply chain.

Earning the certification meant going through a rigorous 4 day audit. If you’d walked into UP&R in the days and weeks leading up to the audit, you’d have been treated to an atmosphere akin to lawyers preparing for an important case. That preparation didn’t find us inventing new processes, but rather getting all of our notes in order. At any moment, we had to be ready for an auditor to ask us to produce our training matrix, or point to a worker and ask about their training record.

Though this is an automotive certification, the standards required benefit all of UP&R’s customers. In order to become TS19649 certified, we had to prove that we have a thorough predictive and preventative maintenance program in place in order to ensure minimal downtime. And as we mentioned, we had to provide detailed documentation of our training program. A comprehensive training program guarantees that all of our employees are working in an optimal manner.

Taken together, the TS16949 Certification is evidence of our commitment to being an efficient business, and providing the very best for our customers. We’re proud to have achieved this certification, and we’re excited to carry out the last stipulation: working towards continual improvement, so that we are always providing the best service possible.

Greater Than the Sum of Our Parts

If you’ve been keeping up with us on Facebook and Twitter, you know that we recently acquired Dybrook Products, Inc. Dybrook is a leader in custom molded and extruded rubber products, so making them a part of Universal Polymer and Rubber was a no brainer. With their addition we’ve expanded our customer base and our production capabilities, all of which provides us with a better foundation for the future.

But it was more than additional customers and production space that spurred our interest in Dybrook. Part of our goal here at Universal is to always be learning, and always be growing. With the acquisition of Dybrook, we’re looking to take the best practices from their business, combine those with the best practices of ours and end up with a company that’s stronger and smarter than the sum of its parts.

This mindset is part and parcel of what we do here at Universal. To be successful in our business everyone wears multiple hats. It’s the reason the VP of sales watches imports and exports. No one on our team sees a problem and goes, “Well, that’s someone else’s job.” We all apply our strengths wherever they’re needed. The folks at Dybrook are on the same page. Together, we have a great mix of philosophies and a team that’s always working to better provide our customers with the solutions they need.