Integral Solutions APACT Benefits Audits elements, departments and procedures Features pre-entered questions from QSA 1988, QSA-TE, AEC-A100 and QSDC Manual User can modify and add questions Offers audit scheduling and management www.integsolutions.com

Software Drives Auditing Success

T he Victor Reinz division of Dana Corp., a tier one supplier in the transportation industry, found excellence and adaptability in Integral Solutions Inc.'s APACT (auditing, planning and control tool). The division has been using the APACT software application for more than two years, relying on the continued ease the multifaceted program provides.

 With today's fiercely competitive supplier network, it's often difficult for customers to choose. But it's critical for suppliers to be able to deliver quality products in a timely manner in order to survive, let alone be a leader in the game. A vital part of any quality system is the auditing program used to track nonconformances and corrective actions. An effective auditing strategy ensures that when a problem arises, it can be addressed quickly--before it becomes a quality issue for the customer.

 Located in Milwaukee, the Victor Reinz division manufactures gaskets and sealing products for the automotive, heavy-duty off-road and recreational vehicle industries. Some of its key customers include Caterpillar, Navistar, Mack Truck, General Motors and Harley-Davidson. Because the facility encompasses five customer-oriented focus factories, communication is extremely important, and everyone must have access to the same information pertinent to processes.

 Some companies rely on a number of software programs, such as Microsoft Word and Excel, to set up an auditing program. However, at Victor Reinz, each focus factory operates largely independently of the others. This setup necessitates the use of a single auditing program, such as APACT, that can address all elements of QS-9000 using formal documentation at each factory while assuring that the data can be shared with others.

 With APACT, a worker can enter information in one place and the software will transfer the data to all relevant areas, allowing increased documentation consistency and a significant reduction in the margin of error. Most important to the Victor Reinz division, APACT is integrated to allow the different databases to "talk" to one another, providing smooth tran- sitions and constant updates for the interdependent units within the division.

 Tom Derzon, quality assurance man- ager at Victor Reinz, has been a quality professional for 34 years and a quality manager for 25 years. As a senior member of the American Society for Quality, Derzon says he views quality as a way of life. "With APACT, we were able to tailor our internal audit program to meet the diversity among our focus factories, while remaining within the scope of the QS-9000 standard," says Derzon. "APACT provides flexibility to not only set up and track our own internal audits, but also to develop audit criteria for our suppliers."

 By using APACT, the Victor Reinz division has been able to improve its total quality management system. With processes under control on the plant floor, the division has effectively reduced rework, scrap and customer complaints, resulting in improved efficiency and increased return on investment.