Riteks operates to the very highest standards of the chemical manufacturing industry, maintaining certification according to responsible distribution standards set by the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD). We maintain a rigorous compliance program, meeting or exceeding all standards for chemical manufacturing and distribution for a host of government agencies. As an active member of NACD, Riteks adheres to the following Responsible Distribution Guiding Principles as part of its ongoing certification and compliance.
In addition to these stringent standards set forward by our industry here in United States, we also meet the demands of the international community in form of ISO 9001: 2015 certification.
WHAT IS ISO: 9001: 2015?
ISO 9001, first published in 1987 and updated in 2015, is the international standard for quality management systems, as laid out by the International Organization for Standardization, an agency that helps the international community achieve acceptable standards that transcend borders. Our products must meet the standards of both our customers and regulatory bodies, and those stakeholders can be here in the USA or in virtually every corner of the globe where our products are used in settings from oilfields to construction and manufacturing.
What's a Quality Management System?
In chemical manufacturing, it's critical that our products achieve a high level of consistency and performance. How we execute on quality is everything in our industry, and our consistency can make or break our company, a trusted supplier of products ranging from concrete admixtures to paints and coatings, for more than 30 years.
We've made the choice at Riteks to follow the highest standards we know, whether they are meted out by the industry or ISO. In the case of ISO, the 9001 standard revised in 2015 informs our quality management system, which formalizes the way we document our processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving our quality objectives and complying with quality standards. ISO 9001 is especially influential as we develop new products. Since a significant component of our business is in custom chemical manufacturing, it's important to maintain performance standards from product design through to packaging and launch.
IMS 9001 is comprised of seven quality management principles:
- Leadership
- Engagement of People
- Customer Focus
- Process Approach
- Improvement
- Relationship Management
- Evidence-based decision making
As you can see, these principles demand the involvement of everyone at our company, from our leadership to our technical specialists that oversee manufacturing, packaging, and logistics, as well as our customer-facing team. ISO 9001 places specific emphasis on management responsibilities, including the management of resources, people, and work environments.
What Does This Mean for Riteks Customers?
The ISO 9001: 2015 difference is a big one for Riteks customers. As an early adopter if this new set of quality standards, we embraced the concept of continuous improvement in this area. With our commitments at business unit level, through cross-functional teams, and at organizational level to strictly adhere to international quality standards, our customers actually see quality improvements-in both product performance and the efficiency with which we operate in manufacturing and distributing their products-year after year.
Processes that help us maintain the performance standards for our products and drive us to greater efficiency year after year ensure that our customers receive fair prices at great value for every Riteks purchase.
More than one million companies in 160 countries measure their quality performance according to ISO 9001. Such robust participation means that these standards, which create a fair playing field for measuring companies like Riteks and its competitors, contributes to the stability of our global marketplace.