News

The concept that generic products are just as good as
original manufacturer products definitely holds true – when you’re talking about
thumb tacks or yellow mustard perhaps. But when it comes to spare parts for
intricate electronics or appliance repair, can you really trust a knock

Some generic parts are sourced from the same ODM that makes
the genuine parts, so the generic version is easily seen as an attractive, less
costly option. However, many are also copied through reverse engineering,
potentially using inferior materials and processes.

With no way to tell exactly what you’re getting, the first
clue may not come until an unhappy consumer informs you that the high-end
refrigerator you just drove 20 miles to repair has failed again. Are generic
parts worth the risk of making multiple lengthy trips to a customer’s home due
to repeated part failure? Perhaps, but in the age of instant feedback on the
Internet, is it also worth the risk to your business reputation? While one
happy customer may tell two people about his/her experience, an unhappy
customer will tell the world.

No surprise, cutting corners usually doesn’t pay off in the
long run. It’s a practice that is likely to end up costing you more in time,
labor and parts expense. When Encompass is able to obtain original parts
directly from the OEM, that is always the preferred option for just this reason.
Managing defective parts is a drain on our resources and bottom line, but that
is secondary to the negative impact faulty parts can have on our brand and
customer relationships.  

ISO – the International Organization for Standardization – develops
globally-recognized rules and norms for products, services and best practices
to promote better operational effectiveness. ISO standards are intended to help
businesses reduce
costs and increase efficiency by minimizing waste and errors and increasing
productivity.

The ISO 9000 standards address
quality management and are among the most popular implemented by businesses.
ISO 9001 is the only ISO 9000 standard that can be certified to, and
essentially helps ensure that customers receive good quality, consistent
products and services. It is based on a number of quality management principles,
including a strong customer focus, leadership involvement, process approach and
ongoing improvement. Other ISO certifications are industry specific, such as
food safety, automotive and medical devices, but are still based on the ISO
9000 quality management standards.

The actual certification process
can cost thousands of dollars and take months to achieve. It requires an
enormous amount of procedural documentation and commitment to continual
measurement and improvement.

At a time when many businesses are still tracking costs to
the penny, how can you justify the time and expense to attain ISO certification?
Depending on the size and complexity of your operation, that upfront investment
could end up providing a much greater return in the long run. Benefits include:

ISO certification can be daunting,
but there are many consulting firms available to help guide businesses through
the process. Hiring a consultant does not come cheap, but is probably the best
way to go to ensure compliance.

It’s certainly worth exploring certification
– in a competitive marketplace, it could give your organization an edge with
prospects, while greatly improving your internal operations.

For detailed information about ISO
Standards, click here.