CAQ-Software at Martin Kaiser: Quality for Electronic Components
Synthetic materials have become an integral part of our everyday lives, and, due to their versatility, it is difficult to imagine life without them. We encounter them daily in the form of packing materials, textiles, automobile tires, or even in the areas of personal hygiene, incorporated into cosmetics. Synthetics, due to their tolerance of high temperatures and very low electrical conductivity, are well suited for uses in electronics as materials for electrical insulations and enclosures.
Martin Kaiser used these attributes to his advantage and arranged the product line-up of his company, founded in 1939, accordingly. Initially, he started out producing synthetic components with customer-owned, leased tools in his 200 square meters of workspace. But by 1950 he was already introducing his own assortment of electronic products. Today the company, renamed Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG in 1996, produces electrical plugs, plug and socket connections, table and fitting sockets, as well as multiple socket outlets. Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG features its own construction department with tool manufacture, a thermoset and thermoplastic manufacturing section, a metal processing division, an assembly, and an electro-plating shop.
The company, situated in the town of Hochstadt, manufactures all synthetic components on site. Only screws and cable needed for the plugs and outlets are brought in from an outside source. Manufactured components are marketed and sold under the name “Kaiser” to industrial companies in Germany and abroad. Exclusive parts that bear the quality seal “Made in Germany” are sought after by customers worldwide.
Synthetic Materials Used in Electronics – Caught in the Stress Field of Diverse Industry Standards
A variety of regulations and demands exist for the properties and production procedures of electronic products as well as for individual components included in these products, such as various synthetic parts. Assuring human safety during production and implementation of manufactured products is one of the most important goals.
Due to ever-increasing market globalization companies are confronted with a plethora of differing industry standards. Depending on the particular country different procedures for tool and component inspection are used, and inspection comprehensiveness and inspection methods can vary greatly from place to place. Environmental laws can also play an important role, for example regulations concerning certain ingredients and/or their usage and reusability. The products have to conform to the appropriate country-specific criteria for export. However, there also exist country-spanning regulations in order to ensure fundamental safety rules are met.
For Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG, a company with a particularly high export quota, adhering to international standards as well as conforming to standards germane to individual countries is a matter of course. The customer must be able to rely on getting a high-quality and therefore reliable, functional and safe product. In order to ensure continual product safety, Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG introduced a new and separate department for quality in 1995.
Using CAQ AG Quality Management Software to Be on the “Safe Side”
In 1986, Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG introduced a quality management system conforming to DIN EN ISO 9001 (and later, in 2001, DIN EN ISO 9001:2000) in order to meet the safety demands for electronic products. After testing various software products, Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG started using the CAG AG Factory Systems integrated Quality Management Software in 1998 with complete satisfaction.
Mr. Grebner, director for quality matters at Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG, found out about CAQ AG Factory Systems software in an industry journal. The modular design set CAQ AG’ software apart from the competition. A customer does not need to purchase a complete system, loaded down with many features not relevant or even unsuitable to the customer’s particular situation. CAQ AG’ individual modules can be added over time to suit each customer’s individual needs.
Today, Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG uses CAQ AG software in all of its four production departments: in the construction department and in tool manufacturing, in the thermoset and thermoplastic manufacturing section, in the metal processing division, and in assembly.
Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG uses 9 licenses of the principle software module Compact.Net. The company expanded its CAQ software to include the rejection, complaint, and service management software REM.Net, the gauge management software PMM.Net, the initial sample inspection software EMP.Net, as well as the Document Management Software QBD.Net. Administration of all inspection plans as well as adhering to quality guidelines and standards is therefore made much easier. All procedures that guarantee product safety are documented and are hence traceable, and protocols and statistics are immediately available.
Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG also subscribes to the Top Service Pack “TSP” which ensures that the company always has the latest software installed. Due to the two companies’, Kaiser and CAQ, excellent working relationship, it is always clear from the start whether specific updates are needed or not. Moreover, the Top Service Pack also includes free user workshops and seminars where employees can learn about the latest improvements.
Mr. Grebner sees the software as a major time and effort saver. As he explains:
“Our employees who work with the software on a daily basis are just as satisfied as I am. The software is extremely user-friendly due to its Windows-like interface. This is an enormous advantage.”
For Mr. Grebner, as the director for quality matters at Martin Kaiser GmbH & Co. KG, there is no doubt that he made the right decision when he opted for using CAG AG Factory Systems software.
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