Quality optimization with train

From medical technology to the construction industry: Stefano Cipolletta has known for many years that compliance with complex quality standards is the norm. Outside the world of highly regulated industries, however, what Quality Manager Cipolletta encountered when he joined the headquarters of Va noli AG, Zofingen, in January 2015 is still a common sight:

Quality control efforts via a simple Excel cockpit. It speaks for him that with these old structures he successfully completed the repeat audit for the 9001 and 18001 standards in May 2015 after a short training period.

But sustainable optimization? No, not with Excel. Cipolletta had set out to modernize process management at the Zofingen site of Vanoli AG. He also had a clear mandate to have the environmental management system certified by the end of 2015: "Within seven months, we rebuilt the entire management system with IQSoft and certified the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards with a new certification company in December.

At the beginning a quite clear specification sheet
Cipolletta first formulated a very general goal for Vanoli AG: "I simply required clean document control and management. He evaluated two electronic quality management systems and decided on the IQSoft product from IQS AG in Zofingen: "The other provider seemed too technical for our purposes.

Why IQSoft?
In addition to the general per formance, Cipolletta mentions the proximity to the supplier - the locations of the two SMEs are not far apart. But then come three arguments that are always heard in such evaluations: "We were convinced by the price/performance ratio. What we also liked was the uncomplicated manner of the IQS people. And last but not least, the software gives us a lot of freedom of movement. Other systems are more rigid. They are restrictive and give people little opportunity to get involved.

Markus Bindschädler, CEO at Vanoli in Zofingen, supported the recommendation of his quality expert. He attaches great importance to modern process control and gave the go-ahead for rapid quality optimization. IQSoft was purchased.

2016: Consolidation
2016 is coming: The new digital quality chassis tent has been live for a few months. As a quality specialist with experience in electronic process control, you may know exactly what happens next: You discover that many documents in the system are regular corpses. The first training sessions on the use of the new software begin and further training is initiated ("I find the self-studies with knowledge verification very successful"). The CIP module "Opportunities for Improvement" immediately brings a lot of feedback from the employees.

2017: Everything in flux. Everything always up to date
A year passes. New modules are implemented: "In equipment management, we acquired a whopping 1800 items of equipment in 2017, all with a complete history. The procurement system is partially active. Quotations also run through the program, including all assignments and reminders for those responsible. Au dit data is recorded."

Stefano Cipolletta: "You can't forget anything. On Monday at six o'clock, like all the other employees, I receive an e-mail from IQSoft tailored to my function. I immediately see what's pending, and also what I might not have done yet."

Small, fast, strong
Stefano Cipolletta enjoys working with people he can rely on at all times. He appreciates the manageable team at IQS AG. Smaller, he believes, is often faster. And in general he appreciates that "with IQS AG you can find an appointment very quickly. Even with inquiries via the hotline, the answer almost always comes on the same day. You know who you're talking to, and so the hotline is very lively."

Swiss made. Swiss Quality
Cipolletta is not at all surprised that IQSoft is in the service of many well-known Swiss companies: "I feel that IQS AG is a company with a high level of identification. All the people are motivated, not just the bosses. I appreciate this attitude of the company very much. It is an excellent reflection of what I understand by 'Swiss made' and 'Swiss Quality'.

Where are we headed?
Since IQSoft is web-based and runs across all locations, the step from use at the Zofingen site to expansion to the entire Vanoli Group is certainly a topic of conversation.

A decision in favor of this approach would not be surprising: standardization saves time and reduces costs. This is probably one of the reasons why the intercompany capability of the Zo finger quality software is being used internationally by more and more Swiss companies - especially since the software package is now available in seven languages.

New process owners
On a personal note, Quality Manager Cipolletta feels the time has come to share some of his responsibilities with new process owners, "I kept all the document management with me for four years at 100%. It's time to let go a little and pass on some responsibility to those who know best 'on the front end'."

Successful ISO certifications
The initial certifications with a new certification company in 2015 mentioned at the beginning were followed by repeat audits in 2016 ("The auditors were thrilled with how quickly we were able to retrieve information") and the recertifications also went well, as expected.

Highlight SBB Audit
"IQSoft allows us to demonstrate the power of Vanoli process management to external auditors with flying colors. Example: We are an SBB service supplier and were the first SBB railway supplier to be audited regarding our internal processes. In this in-house system audit, SBB asked, "How do you manage quality at Va noli?" I was able to show the auditors from the Federal Railways what they wanted to know about our management system with just a few clicks. We were very pleased with the result: no weak points were found at Vanoli in Zofingen."

Your conclusion, Stefano Cipolletta?
Stefano Cipolletta would like to further expand the use of the software tools in his company. In summary, what he currently particularly likes about "his" IQSoft as Quality Manager: "The manageable support effort. The secure knowledge when changing personnel, the traceability of all documents and measures. The enormously fast, individual access. And of course the guarantee that all content is always up to date.