Bühler secures latest global ISO certification for its optical sorting systems
A significant milestone has been reached by Bühler has announced its achievement of the latest ISO 9001:2015 certification which recognises the outstanding quality procedures and business practices observed during the manufacturing of its optical sorters.
Having previously secured the ISO 9001:2008 accreditation, Bühler opted to pursue the ISO 9001:2015 certification, the latest globally recognised quality management standard developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation, to demonstrate that it has taken adequate care to maintain the highest quality standards for its products, business management and customer satisfaction.
With the accreditation, Bühler’s customers are provided with an added layer of confirmation to buy with confidence as they can be sure that the company has strong, verified quality processes in place to prevent the risk of any product faults, recalls, or service shortcomings.
The audit assessed Bühler’s London facility top-down business processes including performance and recovery which was based on multiple quality management principles such as: leadership processes, manufacturing process management, operational planning, control of incoming and outbound goods, sales and marketing processes, quality performance to customers, and corrective action plans. Bühler successfully passed the audit on the September 2, 2020.
John Etoule, Head of Quality at Bühler’s Digital Technologies division, said: “Our optical sorting facility has been ISO accredited since the early 2000s. Over the last couple of decades, we have expanded production from London – where we have been manufacturing optical sorters for over 70 years – with additional sites in China and Brazil, in order to meet the growing demand in these regions.
“As a global business, staff at all of Bühler AG’s manufacturing facilities work to the same high quality criteria. My role entails working across our optical sorting sites to ensure that the ISO approved quality standards and business practices are adhered to. In this way we are able to achieve optimum cohesion in our business and provide customer satisfaction all around the world.”
As Confectionery Production previously reported, the company’s latest achievement comes as the business last year attained a Queen’s Award for the quality of its optical sorting ranges. This has included using its technology over the past five years to deliver new specialist cameras for different markets. This includes its BioVision system is targeted at the nut industry, which works closely with the confectionery sector as a key ingredient.
In addition, the company has developed its PolarVision aimed at producers of frozen vegetables, and PolyVision designed to improve plastic recycling rates. This represented the seventh Queen’s Award that has been won by Bühler UK since 1968. The technology is currently being used by food producers in Europe and the United States who are reporting increased detection rates for foreign materials up from 85% to 95%.
Track record
A total of two billion people each day enjoy foods produced on Bühler equipment; and one billion people travel in vehicles manufactured using parts produced with Bühler machinery. Countless people wear eyeglasses, use smart phones, and read newspapers and magazines – all of which depend on Bühler process technologies and solutions.
Having this global relevance, Bühler is in a unique position to turn today’s global challenges into sustainable business. Bühler contributes to safely feeding the world and is doing its part to protect the climate, producing machinery that makes cars, buildings, and machinery more energy efficient. Its aim is to reduce energy, waste, and water in its customers’ value chains by 50% by 2025. Bühler’s purpose is creating “innovations for a better world.”
