Strategic Roadmap Case Study | Synergy, Growth & Operations

Corru-Seals, dba Nicholsons, are global specialists in the design and manufacture of high temperature metal seals, gaskets and ancillary components, supplying the aerospace sector for over 40 years from their U.S. site. Corru-Seals is an approved manufacturer currently supplying seals and gaskets to U. S. aerospace industry customers including Pratt & Whitney, General Electric, Honeywell, and Rolls-Royce Indianapolis.

The company has always achieved their mandatory certifications, including the last several years as the requirements have grown and expanded not only from quality assurance but also to overall business practices. Corru-Seals also complies with the new revision standard to ensure its leadership efforts are aligned with the overall company strategy and business processes.

Challenge
Corru-Seals recognized to fully realize the benefits inherent in the new quality standard would require a paradigm shift in the organization. In order to truly operate at a world class level and compete with much bigger players in a global market they needed to move beyond the mentality of just getting through the most recent audit.

The attitude of “checking the box” was no longer acceptable. A laser-focused effort would be needed, employing management tools and metrics to provide clear direction for achieving the obvious results and more notably, operating under the intent of the new standard, and reaching growth and operational goals.
Solution
Having had a previous working relationship, Corru-Seals reached out again to CONNSTEP. While the overarching purpose was to pass the audit the first time, the new underlying emphasis was to help Corru-Seals fully understand the AS 9100D standard and most importantly, its application to business operations.

The initial gap analysis was instrumental in getting the company off to the right start while establishing a roadmap for not only the certification process but also for how to conduct business in the new environment.

Corru-Seals had been operating under a holistic, balanced scorecard management mentality but could not correlate it to the standard certification activities, which in turn was not showing any value-added return. Embedding and institutionalizing the concepts into their management practice was needed to reap the maximum benefits.
Result
By embracing the intent of the standard, Corru-Seals was successful in implementing best in class concepts. The identifiable aspects of the new standard that have changed the organization and enhanced ownership and accountability include:

Relevant interested parties
Context of the Organization
Employee Awareness
Engagement and Competency

Each step of the way during the pre-audit process the CONNSTEP auditor was there to guide, help with interpretation, and identify the types of objective evidence needed. This allowed the organization to:

Improve profitability to its highest levels
Provide flexibility and priority to their customer base
Enhance overall technical and production capabilities
Keep key stakeholders (ownership, customers, employees, suppliers) top of mind