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Raisio Chemicals, which produces paper chemicals, is updating
its quality control system to meet the new ISO 9001:2000 standard.
The objective of the task, which will be completed by the
end of the year, is a global system that will take into account
the quality systems as well as legislative and cultural differences
in various countries.
Raisio Chemicals is the most international of the Raisio
Group's business sectors. The operating idea is to serve the
worldwide paper industry with functional paper chemicals and
chemical concepts. Raisio Chemicals is one of the world's
leading producers of latex binders, starch binders and specialty
chemicals.
Raisio Chemicals' quality and environmental management systems
have been constructed to conform with the special requirements
laid down not only by ISO standards but also by customers.
The company also puts into practice the chemical industry's
international Responsible Care programme.
ISO 9001:2000 lays stress on the process operating method,
continuous improvement of operations and fulfilling the individual
demands of customers with greater emphasis.
"Updating a quality system is a big job. Work is being
done on more demanding markets where customers define the
quality," says Tarja Salinsaari, the quality and EHS
manager.
Globalization and localness meet
Raisio Chemicals is one of the world's biggest suppliers
of latex binders and a major player on the international market.
Globalization and localness become concrete in the certified
management system of the Latexia business unit.
"Every country where there is a production plant has
its own local quality systems. Latexia has combined these
by creating a management system that covers all the units
belonging to it. The management system has been certified
and a certificate has been granted by the French AFAQ,"
Salinsaari says.
The company's objectives with regard to each individual business
process will be taken into account in the management of global
customers, the operations of product development units and
production plants operating in different countries and in
the quality and environmental certificates. The members of
a business unit's executive team will be the owners of the
business or support process and will be responsible for managing
the processes. A description of each process will define how
and where the targets will be set and how implementing the
objectives will be monitored.
"Our objective is to be able to supply the same product
from any plant anywhere. Products must be in the right place
at the right time, of the agreed quality, and they must function
has agreed," Salinsaari says.
Quality in surprising situations
Because chemicals are dependent on the temperature, their
properties change as temperatures fluctuate. So challenges
to the quality and functionality of the products are brought
by the different climatic conditions, from the freezing cold
in Finland to the heatwave conditions in the Far East. An
additional challenge is also provided by the stringent environmental
requirements, customers' expectations in relation to the effectiveness
of the production, innovations and uses.
Nor can natural upheavals be forgotten: the company has experienced
these, examples being a thunderstorm last year in Spain that
broke the process instructions at a production plant, while
in Brazil record flooding overran an entire production area.
"In these conditions our aim is for the customer to get
his goods according to the timetable," Salinsaari confirms.
Raisio Chemicals' most important operating areas are Europe,
North America and the expanding market area in Asia i.e. Korea,
China, Thailand and Indonesia. In all, there are 40 operating
localities, with latex plants at seven of them. Of these,
two are in Finland, while the others are in Austria, France,
Spain, Brazil and Indonesia.
>> www.raisiogroup.com
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