Product management
Our product management assigns responsibilities within the company, defines specifications for quality assurance and regulates the labelling requirement including corresponding certifications in line with technical conformity. With our measures, we especially want to extend the service life of the products. Key factors are the continuous optimisation of the quality management and the production methods, the modernisation of the machinery as well as the careful selection of suppliers with the highest standards. Corresponding training courses for employees are to continuously increase the responsibility for product quality.
The product management implements all new requirements from customers or legislators at the interface between the company and the market. These immediately flow into the product programme planning and roadmap. The sales managers of the individual markets are informed of this in close consultation. The development department implements the defined projects corresponding. The project management is additionally responsible for product compliance in regard to legal regulations and standards, ensures safety and health for (end) customers and controls the handling of problematic components such as dangerous chemicals. A large portion of our production sites operate with certifications for environmental management (ISO 14001) and energy (ISO 50001).
Key figures for product management
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Division
Interface to the market
The challenge for the product management of the HVAC Division is to implement new and already existing demands with innovative products. The division is therefore active in various bodies, such as the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN) and the Federation of German Heating Industry (BDH). This cross-sector exchange enables the division to help shape technical progress and incorporate innovations into its product management early on. In the HVAC Division, the processes and product programme planning are therefore continually adjusted and the responsible employees are trained in respect to new trends and standards as early as possible. Adapted and newly developed products also have to be documented, certified and protected with patents. For a positive perception on the market, aesthetic aspects are also taken into account in the product design, which is to supplement the technical effects from use. To increase public interest, selected innovations are presented in the framework of design contests.
Products with certification and success monitoring
At all companies of the HVAC division, the product development follows a systematic process with defined milestones. In this connection, the sales development of new products as well as qualitative feedback from the market environment allow a reliable success monitoring. These new products as well as most of the other products of the HVAC Division are subject to a product certification with the quality marks RAL and NF for radiators, EHPA for heat pumps and DINCertco approvals for underfloor heating pipes. Fan coils have mostly Eurovent certifications, while chimneys have the IMQ certificate.
Guaranteed product safety
Upon delivery of the products, customers receive instructions with corresponding safety notes on use, assembly and maintenance. In addition, the customer service of the HVAC Division can be reached via a hotline and by e-mail. For electrical work, the customer service employees of the HVAC Division pass a course that enables them to perform work on electrical devices for corresponding assembly. The division has optimised the processes for the heat pump product in particular, for which ad hoc service is necessary: In the first step, the back office provides 1st level support. If the problem cannot be solved here, the office-based technical service takes over in the 2nd level and checks the heat pump via remote maintenance – up to 70% of the problems can be solved this way. In the 3rd level, a customer service technician is tasked to check the system on site, or support is alternatively provided by a specialist in the technical department.
Doors Division
Certification and quality assurance
The internal product management of the Doors Division ensures that even highly specialised customer requirements are fulfilled in every detail and all legal regulations and common standards are observed without compromise through standards-compliant production. In this way, the sales volume for certified products can be successively increased.
Product quality is ensured at the Doors Division with the quality management system ISO 9001 as well as further certifications bodies such as ift and SIPIZ. Quality assurance monitors the materials used during manufacturing, supervises the production control and checks the manufactured parts. The assurance of the highest quality standards – the heart of the standard EN ISO 9001 – makes it possible to maximise customer satisfaction. The building products manufactured by the Doors Division are subsequently placed on the market in accordance with valid legal regulations and standards. This requires an in-house production control; the corresponding documentation is performed by the respective department of quality control at the individual companies.
Quality characteristics and conformity
The innovative spirit of the division is based on active participation in various bodies as well as on the division-wide exchange of know-how and experience. As a result, customers always receive innovative, high-quality and durable products. The shower stalls of the Glass Solutions Business Unit, for example, are characterised by exceptional durability. These products are tested in accordance with the strict standards EN 14428 (CE) and PPP 53005 (TÜV / GS). This covers characteristics such as sturdy materials, seals and easy-care use. The use of single-pane safety glass up to ten millimetres thick is documented in accordance with the standard EN 12150.
The Ciasna (PL) and Roggwil (CH) sites are certified according to the ISO standard 9001: Standardised procedures not only ensure the quality of the products but also the delivery reliability and the correct product labelling. Further seals of approval are relevant certificates for wood from sustainable forestry, the pollutant test by eco-institut, the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and the RAL quality mark of the German Institute for Quality Assurance.
The production controls in the factories of the individual companies are verified once a year as part of external audits. Invado, for example, successfully received the certification for sustainable forestry PEFC in the operating year. RWD Schlatter, Prüm and Garant each passed the audits of FSC, PEFC, WPK ift and WPK SIPIZ in the reporting year.
