GE Advanced Ceramics Facility Receives ISO Certification

GE Advanced Ceramics’ quality management system, Strongsville, OH, was recently certified to the ISO 9001:2000 standard, an upgrade from its previous ISO 9002 certification.
GE executives said the certification underscores the company’s commitment to rigorous quality systems and confirms that GE uses the highest standards in its design, manufacturing and delivery services.
Other ISO 9001:2000 certified GE Advanced Materials-Quartz locations include the Newark, OH quartz crucible and tubing furnace operations and related support functions; the Geesthacht, Germany quartz facility and the Kozuki, Japan ceramics facility.
Since the purchase of Advanced Ceramics Corporation in Nov. 2002, GE has implemented a Six Sigma approach to further improve product and process quality, according to company executives. The highly-disciplined quality system provides a rigorous process for identifying and eliminating variances in a wide range of manufacturing and business processes to deliver of world-class products and services.
“Six Sigma is part of the DNA of GE. It’s how we work,” said Rick Ryan, manager, global manufacturing, GE Advanced Materials-Quartz. “Virtually every process, from order entry to preventive maintenance, is measured and analyzed. The ISO certification of our quality management system is validation that we have the appropriate mechanisms in place to help control process variations and improve process capability. Our ability to meet the new demands of the ISO 9001:2000 standard signifies our commitment to implementing and measuring continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.”