Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres, the Grantham based commercial tyre remoulding specialist, has been awarded OHSAS 18001 - the BSI certification for Occupational Health and Safety Management. This, added to the company's two existing accreditations for quality and environmental management, make Vacu-Lug the first UK Retreader to hold all three standards and as such, the company has set a new benchmark for the industry.
The company has invested heavily in training and systems development at every level: From administration through to production line procedures, all personnel have benefited from a sustained improvements programme aimed at increasing efficiency, improving quality and ensuring safety.
Managing Director Tim Hercock is upbeat about the newly acquired accreditation:
"We have already attained high standards for our quality and environmental procedures - ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 - and this further OHSAS accreditation, provides a stamp for quality, reliability and continual improvement which is internationally recognised. Being the first in our industry sector to achieve all three standards is a reflection of the hard work and professionalism demonstrated by our team here in Grantham and around the country. Moreover, our customers can be assured of our ongoing commitment to provide the very best in products and service and to keep the bar raised high."
In keeping with the company's high quality philosophy, an internal auditing system is in place to help maintain standards and to ensure all procedures and processes are adhered to.
Vacu-Lug Management Systems Administrator, Jason Short, has day to day responsibility for administering the BSI procedures.
"Now that we have achieved this latest quality goal, we certainly won't be resting on our laurels. We will conduct monthly internal audits and be subject to bi- annual external audits from BSI which will enable us to monitor and adjust where necessary to keep all procedures on track. Basically, this helps to ensure consistently high standards of safety, environmental management and quality control across all areas of our operation with an emphasis on continual improvement."
Since its creation , Vacu-Lug has worked in close partnership with customers across a broad spectrum of industry sectors to provide tyre 'solutions' for many specific transport needs. Over the years, that philosophy has driven the development of Vacu-Lug's Duramold brand of retread tyres - the manufacture of which has significantly less impact upon the environment compared to new tyres - and has seen a wide range of premium quality, new and off-road tyres added to its range.
"Ultimately", concludes Tim Hercock, " we strive to provide precisely the right products to suit our customers' operations and then, if required , using our Fleet Management System, VFM (Vacu-Lug Fleet Management) manage their use as efficiently as possible, thus minimising overall tyre-spend. Adding this latest important accreditation to those already achieved, will help us to maintain consistently high standards and to remain the best at what we do."