AUTO LOCKSMITHS
The importance of quality control
What is quality control ? As described by Alfort and Beaty , “ Quality control is the mechanism by which products are made to measure up to the specifications determined from the customer ’ s demands and transform into sales , engineering and manufacturing requirements . It is concerned with making things right rather than discovering and rejecting those made wrong . Quality control is a technique by means of which products of uniform acceptable quality are manufactured .”
The team 3D Group has expanded the team significantly since opening . From there , the team has grown from a desk in a back room with a locksmith testing new products ; to now , where there is a dedicated team of quality control experts . Developing a team was essential to keep up with the saturated market . New products are developed and made available to the market so often that it would be impossible to maintain a high level of standards across the industry without quality testing .
3D Group employs three quality control technicians with a wealth of knowledge and experience within the auto locksmith industry . With plans to move to larger premises , the team is set to expand even further to aid in the ever-expanding variety of products that need testing .
Matt , our most experienced quality control technician , who has been working at 3D Group for over five years , has seen the market expand and diversify . This development has brought its challenges , and Matt believes it is due to the saturation of the aftermarket products developed globally . As not all manufacturers adhere to high-quality assurance standards here at 3D Group UK , and so all products are tested to the same standard regardless of the country of origin .
Displayed is one of the quality issues that the team at 3D Group will find . The quality control team will report this to the manufacturer , and then we will start a process of improvement to ensure improvement and consistency in the future . Without the fantastic working relationship with the manufacturers , this wouldn ’ t be possible . See image to the right .
Quality control procedures
3D Group has a set protocol for testing each and every product received from our suppliers . The goods are received and put straight to work , with the team testing aspects such as the blades , remotes and key blanks . The QC team will inspect the product to ensure there are no faults , confirming that it will be possible to cut them without any issues when sold to locksmiths .
Remotes will also go through rigorous testing , guaranteeing the internal boards and material strength is up to standard . The technicians will also test the signal strength of the remotes , meaning that the end-user is guaranteed to be happy with their new remote . Aesthetics are also measured , ensuring all remotes meet the same standard of appearance .
The technicians at 3D Group will use a remote separator to inspect the inside of the remotes and test the quality of the board inside . Guaranteeing that blade can be fitted safely and will last for the end-user .
How many times have you heard of someone ’ s car key snapping ? Our locksmiths have to service many of these people , and this is why we test the strength of key blades . What appears to be a brutal act is necessary to guarantee that the person ’ s key won ’ t snap when it is put under pressure being twisted and turned in an ignition .
Some distributors of automotive locksmith supplies either don ’ t complete quality testing or only test a small sample of products ; this doesn ’ t happen at 3D Group . Each and every product is tested , ensuring that none of the faulty few slip through the net and make their way to the market .
Even when there is a repeat order from a long-standing supplier , the procedure does not change . All products continue to be tested to the same rigorous level .
“ Quality is never an accident ; it is always the result of high intention , sincere effort , intelligent direction and skilful execution .” William A . Foster
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MAY / JUN 2021
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