Kitchen & Bath Business March/April 2024 - 12

INDUS TR Y
CHALLENGE S
Lessons in Quality Control
How four K&B brands handle this essential piece of the product(ion) process
IN TODAY'S TURMOIL of supply chain issues
and increased product lead times, it is especially
important to adhere to the most stringent of
policies when it comes to quality control. Not
having appropriate and accurate measures in
place can have an extremely adverse eff ect on a
brand's reputation.
We spoke with four kitchen and bath companies
to dig a little deeper into how they address
product quality control. As design professionals,
you can use these insights to make more informed
product selections.
EMTEK KITCHEN & BATH HARDWARE
Th is brand's off erings undergo rigorous material
inspections, and fi nishes are examined for scratch
resistance, plating adhesion, tone compliance and
random UV/salt spray resistance. According to
Octavio Zuniga, Emtek's quality engineer, if any
issues are detected, the non-conforming materials
are quarantined for the material review board,
and they can be replated, machined or scrapped.
" Emtek actively tests its materials to ensure
the highest-quality materials are used during
assembly, and more advanced equipment is being
evaluated to obtain testing results faster. "
added Zuniga. " We are constantly improving
the relationships among all suppliers and customers
to better understand and identify areas
of improvement. "
FORZA KITCHEN APPLIANCES
Th e 65-year-old brand's manufacturing operations
are dictated by a quality management
system to maintain its strict standards. According
to Marco Guerzoni, Forza's director of marketing
and product development, each product
undergoes four mandatory tests: two aesthetic
inspections on the assembly line to assess part
alignment and detect defects and two safety assessments
regarding the gas system's load and
leakage, as well as electrical circuit safety.
" Moreover, our suppliers are subjected to a rigorous
vendor rating system based on cost, quality
delivered and punctuality, " said Guerzoni. " Our
12
/ MARCH-APRIL 2024
TOP Emtek's products
undergo thorough
inspections, and fi nishes are
tested for a variety of criteria.
Photo credit: Emtek
ABOVE Forza's assembly
workers adhere to a quality
management system to
maintain its stringent product
standards. Each off ering
receives four mandatory tests.
Photo credit: Forza
quality commitment is further reinforced by our IAO 9001:2015 certifi cation
and adherence to lean manufacturing principles since 2008. "
REV-A-SHELF STORAGE ACCESSORIES
Th is company's quality control eff orts begin with continuous training, 5S
methodology (a workplace organization system) and reinforcing continuous
improvement processes. According to Bruce Fowler, Rev-A-Shelf's
senior quality manager, all the brand's vendors are required to work with
strict PPM thresholds and maintain design integrity through specifi c
requirements. All products are measured, inspected and tested through a
fi rst-piece process and incoming inspection control plans.
" Because 98% of our products have some kind of mechanical element, they
must withstand constant everyday use in the home, " added Fowler. " Everything
is tested to Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association standards so
we can ensure all our products will stand up to our limited lifetime warranty. "
WATERMARK DESIGNS PLUMBING FITTINGS
Quality control for this brand starts with purchasing high-quality brass
materials, ensuring mechanical strength and a smooth feel to the handles.
According to Audrey Chen, Watermark Designs' product manager, incoming
materials are inspected using a standard acceptable quality limit process,
which conducts random samples to ensure specifi cation conformance and
detect defects. All products are pressure tested using air and water, and if any
defective products are shipped to the end user, the brand will replace them.
" Watermark has a continuous improvement team that meets monthly
to review product quality concerns and suggestions for improvement, " explained
Chen. " Already in 2024, we are working on new color measurement
instrumentation to reduce color variation in plating and spray lines. "
By Chelsie Butler
Kitchen & Bath Business March/April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business March/April 2024
