November 4, 2024
Barb KopkoWhen it comes to manufacturing industrial equipment like air compressors, a strong quality program is not just a badge of honor – it is essential for ensuring long-term reliability and customer satisfaction. For some manufacturers - like Hitachi Global Air Power, delivering high-performance, durable machines requires more than just compliance with basic standards; it’s about adopting a quality mindset that drives every process, from design to delivery.
Most manufacturers, including air compressor companies, are certified to ISO 9001: 2015. This certification indicates a company meets internationally recognized standards for quality system management. However, being certified is just the beginning of a “quality” quality program. Companies with a deep quality mindset embed these standards into their organization’s DNA. This means going beyond the certification and engaging leadership in setting, supporting, and upholding high standards.
In a “quality” quality program, continuous improvement is prioritized. This involves regularly evaluating processes through internal audits, management reviews, and data analysis. Whether it’s monitoring non-conforming materials, refining the design process, or improving assembly practices, each step is systematically analyzed and improved. However, continuous improvement efforts come with a cost. They require significant investment in people, technology, and processes, which is why leadership commitment is vital to driving lasting adoption and change. Hitachi Global Air Power has invested heavily in transforming the company’s quality program including added and dedicated resources for testing and new warranty tracking technology among other advancements.
Product Quality testing can and should be embedded within a manufacturer’s design validation process from the beginning of every new product. At Hitachi Global Air Power, new product develop testing takes anywhere from a few months to several years to ensure every part of the designed compressor meets exact specifications. The design verification of a new compressor includes but is not limited to individual component testing, road testing, cold chamber studies, software validation, and rigorous performance tests.
Redundant and rigorous testing should be a part of any “quality” quality program. However, many air compressor manufacturers rely on spot audits for finished products, testing only a sample of machines for quality before delivery. Hitachi Global Air Power, however, practices a different quality inspection philosophy by testing every single Sullair compressor before it ships (in addition to the validation process listed above). This includes comprehensive checks on air flow (CFM), software functionality, detection of leaks, sound levels and more to ensure each compressor performs at optimal levels.
A “quality” quality program is most effective when it’s a shared responsibility across all functions of a company. At Hitachi Global Air Power, quality isn’t limited to the quality assurance team – it’s a collaborative effort – a mindset - involving procurement, engineering, R&D, operations, finance, and more. This global cross-functional collaboration enables the sharing of best practices and innovations, creating pathways for continuous learning and improvement. Add in a wide global network of colleagues that are enabled by global systems that work seamlessly together and the results are compounded.
For instance, the Global New Product Development (GNPD) process at Hitachi Global Air Power involves teams from across the globe working together to ensure every part and machine meets strict quality standards. The GNPD team’s supplier qualification process is rigorous, requiring first article approval and validation of each component before it is released for production. The process includes seven-phase gate checkpoints from concept to launch readiness to a post completion review six months after a product launch. The post completion is an important part of the process as it is used to gauge the compressor performance and build in improvements to the GNPD program from the findings.
Global collaboration teams – such as Hitachi Global Air Power’s - instills a quality mindset throughout an organization and pulls the unique experience and knowledge of team members from around the world to build better processes, ignite better ideas, instill better best practices - and finally - build better air compressors.
When evaluating a manufacturer’s quality program, one key indicator is the recognition the company has received for their products. Awards signal more than just innovative designs - they often reflect a commitment to excellence that goes beyond meeting basic standards and can be a strong indication of whether a brand is trustworthy.
Sullair products have received numerous awards in recent years as well as finalist recognition for several others. Some innovative designs include electronic spiral valve technology that matches compressed air demand with output, even in dirty or harsh environments. And swing out cooler doors on the Sullair E1035 electric portable compressor making maintenance more efficient and convenient.
Hitachi Global Air Power / Sullair Awards 2017-2024
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A “quality” quality program is more than certifications and box-checking – it’s a mindset. It’s about a company’s culture to relentlessly pursuing improvements and delivering machines that perform reliably, every time. Quality takes time and investment – the adage “you get what you pay for” is absolutely true when it comes to air compressors.
At Hitachi Global Air Power, we deliver quality products that have been designed, built and tested to a high standard of quality, involving multiple expert teams, investment in technology and global knowhow to yield a “quality” quality product. The multiple awards for our machines, growing customer relationships, and positive feedback are a testament to our quality mindset. The technology development and multifunctional collaboration embedded in our “quality” quality program is evident in our product offerings of spiral valve, global controller and electric portable machines just to name a few examples.
An air compressor is a major investment and a vital power source for your manufacturing operation. When reliability is key, be sure to do your homework and select a compressor backed by a truly “quality” quality program.
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