The Finnish company Perlos Oyj, which is well-known internationally as a subcontractor for the telecommunications, electronics and pharmaceutical industries, focuses on the mass production of technically demanding components and automation lines. The precision and quality requirements at Perlos are strict and the quality must be the best in the world.

Perlos is the world's biggest producer of precision plastic and metal components for the mobile telephone industry and one of the world's biggest producers of dry powder inhalers in the world.

"Our customers are world-leading companies that are well-known internationally for the good quality of their own products. The solutions produced by Perlos always become part of the customers' products, and they have a direct effect on the quality of our customers' products. So we must be ready to respond to the challenges of quality the whole time. At the same time it's important to be proactive i.e. to endeavour to offer new solutions constantly," says Eero Laak, vice president, quality telecommunications and electronics.

Continuous improvement the aim

Extremely strict quality requirements have been set for all Perlos's products and production processes in relation to precision, cleanness and imitability. Because of the quality requirements some of the production takes place in clean room conditions. The production is also automated to a great degree.

A management system is used to ensure that the demands of customers and other interest groups are met. It is based on the ISO 9001 quality standard and has been extended with elements from environmental, health and safety systems. Malcom Baldridge quality award criteria are also used to develop the operations.

Processes are developed continuously and this development is monitored and controlled by indicators. Several quality tools are used to lend support to the continuous improvement. The most important of the strategic tools is Six Sigma.

Cooperation with the customer

Perlos's strongest point is its ability to fully integrate the various production methods and technologies.

"We cooperate closely with our customers in the early stage of the product process, and we control the product's life cycle from research and development to processing and production," Laak explains.

The telecommunications and electronics business unit specializes in the mass production of mechanical plastic and metal components and partial assembly worldwide. The end products include mechanical plastic and metal parts for mobile handsets, automatic assembly lines, moulds, antennas and connectors.

The pharmaceutical unit specializes in the production and partial assembly of sophisticated, high-volume mechanical drug delivery devices used for treating chronic illnesses. The product range includes asthma inhalers and inserters used for treating cancer and birth control. Strict quality systems that must meet the requirements of the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are used in their production.

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The end products made by Perlos include mechanical plastic and metal components for mobile handsets. Quality control is an important part of the production process.