“Excellent Cooperation”

says Caterpillar

A Mark of High Customer Satisfaction

In April 2009 Caterpillar awarded Bucher Hydraulics an SQEP certificate confirming the company as “a core supplier”. Those responsible at Caterpillar for supplier development and qualification presented our project staff with the “Bronze Plaque” which expresses the customer’s appreciation for exceptional performance and excellent cooperation as defined in its Supplier Quality Excellence Process.

“We can be rightly proud of our award. This success will spur us on in our efforts to do our very best in the future in order to meet our customers’ high standards and rise to new challenges.”

Within the framework of the “Supplier Quality Excellence Process” drawn up by Caterpillar, the world’s leading construction machine manufacturer, suppliers that have successfully completed a qualification audit are presented with a certificate. This year it was Bucher Hydraulics’ turn to be awarded the “Supplier Quality Excellence Process Certification” in bronze.

Every department in the company is assessed to ensure it fulfils the requirements defined by the customer. Amongst other things these requirements include business risk management, environmental protection, health and safety in the workplace, instruction and training programmes for product and process development, supplier management, production and process control and establishing a continuous improvement process. To qualify for this award suppliers must at all times fulfil exacting criteria. For example certain key characteristics for products and processes have to be defined and recorded and initial sample inspection procedures must be completed prior to series deliveries. Process capability studies are constantly needed to guarantee consistent high-quality production. Delivery reliability is of the very essence since the customer expects punctual delivery on the day stipulated in his schedule.