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Value Creation
conSoliDateD MANAGEMENT REPORT / PERFORMANCE OF PALFINGER
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Quality management
Quality standards and regular internal and external audits have become a fixed component of
PALFINGER’s corporate culture in order to fully keep up with continuously rising customer expectations.
The expansion strategy pursued by the PALFINGER Group poses additional challenges to
quality management. PALFINGER’s aim is to transfer and sustainably maintain the high standard of
all corporate units all the way through the value-creation chain.
In 2011, numerous system, process, product and supplier audits were successfully carried out at the
new companies as well as at the companies within the areas. Employees as well as suppliers are
regularly trained in methods to uphold and continuously improve quality standards. Compliance
with such standards is reviewed on a regular basis.
Internal and external audits
confirm the constant improvement
of quality standards.
Internal audits were further improved and/or expanded in 2011. Prototype construction was
reviewed and made more efficient, internal component and welding audits were intensified and
became a fixed component of quality management.
Regarding the expansion of external audits, the Marine Systems business unit, which was only
formed in the second half of 2010, is particularly noteworthy. In September 2011, the site in
Maribor, Slovenia, was awarded self-tester status (MSA) by DNV (Det Norsk Veritas) for components
subject to acceptance. This made it possible for PALFINGER to align processes and costs for marine
components much better with customers’ expectations regarding prices and delivery dates. Following
an outstanding audit result, MSA certification was also granted to the plants in Lengau, Austria,
as well as Tenevo and Cherven Brjag in Bulgaria. PALFINGER has thus taken a major step in quality
management for the new business unit Marine Systems.
Recertifications for the quality management system according to DIN ISO 9001:2008 were made at
the Austrian plants in Salzburg, Köstendorf and Lengau as well as at Cadelbosco di Sopra in Italy, at
the Bulgarian plant in Cherven Brjag and at Ganderkesee, Germany. All systems were successfully
recertified for the next three years.
In 2012, the expansion of the quality management systems in the areas will be a predominant
focus. Moreover, PALFINGER is striving to obtain additional certifications from other acceptance
companies in the Marine Systems business unit in order to simplify components acceptance.
82 palfinger Annual Report 2011