Partnership with Customers
Improving Product Quality
Before our products land into the hands of the end user, they are incorporated into the products of assembly manufacturers - our direct customers - where they are given important roles in the functions of the end products of those independent makers. In order to supply the “art of electronics” and services that satisfy our customers and the end user, every Alps employee is working to improve the quality of our products. In addition, we diligently anticipate customer needs and work on developing and evaluating technologies and products that we foresee as being potentially required by the customer.
Quality Control Policy
Each fiscal year, quality management policies are established in line with the Fundamental Quality Control Policy. Quality management systems are established, implemented and continually improved.
In order to facilitate improvements in global quality performance, quality-related achievements and issues are not only shared within individual plants, but also reported regularly to the Board of Directors to be shared company-wide.
Quality Management System
International standards for quality management systems are essential for business as they ascertain that all departments contribute to customer satisfaction through elements of quality assurance. Every Alps Electric production plant (including overseas) had been certified ISO 9001 compliant by fiscal 2005. Furthermore, plants producing automotive-related products have also been certified ISO/TS 16949 compliant. Our efforts toward further improving our quality management systems are never ending.
Plants with Certified Quality Management Systems
Efforts to Improve Quality
Basic training in QE for employees
Originally, the principle behind quality inspections was to confirm conformance of products with specification sheets agreed upon with individual customers. However, that confirmation alone did not prevent defects occurring in processes performed by customers or during use by end users.
For that reason, Alps Electric adopted a new evaluation method based on quality engineering (QE). The method involves verifying whether individual products function correctly and is effective, when used together with techniques for evaluating the consistency of functions in a short period of time, in preventing output of defective products. We are currently working to increase the number of products evaluated using this method. Education about QE provided to employees, besides teaching skills, fosters a strong commitment to preventing defects. Alps will continue these efforts to ensure customers receive products of the highest possible quality.
