CAQ-Software at NORMA: Connecting Quality
NORMA’s roots reach back into automotive history. Long before the current company was founded, J. S. Rasmussen, the father of one of Rasmussen GmbH’s founding members and grandfather of one of its current CEOs, was responsible for the creation of Zschopauer Motor Works. The Saxon company produced cars and motorcycles under the brand name DKW, which is still a well-known trademark today, and exported them worldwide.
NORMA Group, follows the “family tradition” of working close with the automobile industry. Nearly 70% of the company’s extensive customer base comes from the automotive sector. These automobile manufacturers trust in the company, now located in the Hessian Main valley. But NORMA does not rest on its ancestral laurels. Even in times of economic stagnation, the company continued to expand.
Approximately 1,400 employees – of which 600 work in the Hessian headquarters – are responsible for an annual return of 240 Million Euro. With subsidiaries in Germany, France, Britain, Spain, the Czech Republic, Poland, and abroad, NORMA has developed into a leading manufacturer in the area of connection and fastener technology. Hose clamps, pipe connectors, quick connectors, and fluid systems are delivered to companies which come from industrial, commercial, and construction sectors, in addition to the automotive industry.
Quality Is on the Program
NORMA Group offers a product portfolio under the brand name NORMA that covers nearly all areas of modern industries. NORMA produces up to 3.5 million hose clamps and pipe connectors daily in the Main valley.
When it comes to adhering to quality criteria, the Hessian company is just as reliable as in the manufacturing of its products. Technical innovations in connection with extraordinary quality are part of NORMA’s formula for success. Certifications according to ISO/TS 16949, DIN EN ISO 14001, and QS 9000, in addition to US norms place extraordinary demands on the quality control system, in operation since 1996. In this area, NORMA depends on the Hunsrück software company CAQ AG Factory Systems. CAQ AG has modified its software to fit NORMA’s needs perfectly.
“In addition to the excellent price-performance ratio, we decided to use CAQ AG software because the company created custom modules for us, and because we were encouraged to participate in the development of the software,” explains Peter Simmons.
Peter Simmons, a certified engineer, is responsible for NORMA’s quality matters in the NORMAFLEX department and CAQ software programs in general. He knows the system up to its smallest detail. He knows how to employ the modules for inspection planning and data acquisition, batch administration, audits, FMEA, and gauge management. He is also responsible for the software’s use in two German as well as French and US subsidiaries. All quality control in the NORMA department is completed with CAQ AG software. It was Peter Simons’s decision to employ the software at the different NORMA locations.
Flexible Usage
Quality expert Simons values the connection terminal server and SQL-server in particular. The SQL-server in the form of a database has served for 1.5 years as a firm base. The terminal server connection is absolutely essential for NORMA’s CAQ system, as IT specialist Petra Paul remarks. “The terminal server saves us a lot of time,” she explains. “With the server we don’t have to install the system at each workstation, instead, employees can access the server from their workstation without needing to install anything extra.”
NORMA utilizes the convenience of being able to access the quality control system from any workstation often. The company has purchased an unlimited number of licenses, which allows an infinite number of users to access the system simultaneously and allows users to be informed as to the current state of quality at all times.
Top Service Pack
CAQ AG’s service offer is also an important topic at NORMA. The company makes full use of the Top Service Pack, also known as TSP. “Employees in manufacturing get sent to Rheinböllen to participate in training sessions and workshops all the time. There, they receive the latest information on technology updates and potential system innovations or improvements,” explains quality export Simons. “That is an advantage for everyone. After all, trained employees can educate others to ensure that we are using the system to its fullest potential.”
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