TABLE HAL L & Tawse Scotland, a member of Raine Industries plc, have
been rewarded for two years of hard work in documenting the standards of
quality which they are currently achieving with the granting of BS5750
Quality Assurance accreditation to all six of their area offices.
But already the company are making plans to improve the high standards
which have seen them become one of the first construction companies in
Scotland, and within the first 10 in the UK, to achieve registration to
BS5750 standard.
Earlier this week Scottish Housing Minister Lord James
Douglas-Hamilton made the official presentation of the prestigious award
at the company's Glasgow regional office.
The ceremony marked months of sustained effort by staff at all levels
of the company and the global award to the Hall & Tawse Scotland
operations follows the granting of BS5750 to their Aberdeen-based
joinery workshop in April last year.
''We are obviously extremely pleased at the award of BS5750,
particularly as we achieved it in these difficult economic times,'' said
acting managing director Mr Jim Leask.
''We have always been a quality-conscious company but this award
provides formal acknowledgement on a nationwide basis of the high
standard of our quality assurance management systems. What it does is
tells our clients and customers that within our company we operate
rigorous, but flexible, fully documented and British Standard-recognised
quality assurance management systems. That has to be to the benefit of
both ourselves and our customers.''
Mr Leask pointed out that in the not too distant future most, if not
all, existing and potential customers of Hall & Tawse would restrict
their tender lists to companies who are BS5750 registered. These include
the Ministry of Defence, the Department of the Environment, hospital
boards, and local authorities.
''In a sense we anticipated this trend and reacted in a fully
committed manner to achieve what has to be regarded as vital
accreditation,'' said Mr Leask. ''Our success has placed Hall & Tawse at
the front of the pack.''
Mr Andrew Westwood, Quality Assurance Manager, explained that the
BS5750 accreditation process started with the Aberdeen office in mid
June, was followed by Glasgow and Perth in August, and Elgin,
Fraserburgh and Broxburn in October.
''The whole exercise took 14 man days and the number of
non-conformances raised was remarkably few. Many simply involved
re-wording paragraphs in the manuals.
''At the outset during our 'Quality Awareness Campaign' it was
emphasised that accreditation was not the goal, but a milestone. A
significant one but nevertheless a stage along the route towards lasting
success.
''What we have achieved is a documented system showing how we run our
business now. The next stage is to examine our system and decide if that
is the way forward and to change where necessary to meet the demands of
our customers. This change must be controlled and effective to be of any
value.''
Mr Westwood said that weaknesses in the Hall & Tawse operations had
been discovered and improvements were under way. His job, through
audits, was to identify further problems and refine the systems to
eliminate them.
Hall & Tawse Scotland Ltd operate through a network of strategically
located regional companies and they have clearly defined objectives.
For their clients they promise ''first-class quality and service'' and
for the community and environment ''support care and consideration''.
One of the clearest testaments to the quality of their work is the
group's ability to sustain lasting relationships with major clients
which is founded on a history of sound performance and creates the
opportunity for further work.
One way they are trying to improve their systems is by encouraging the
staff who use them day to day, and therefore are familiar with any
difficulties, to come forward with their ideas.
Mr Westwood has told them that they have the power to effect change
within their own company by suggesting improvements and he will provide
the means of presenting their ideas to the board of directors.
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