In today’s competitive world, the savvy shopper knows to purchase goods and services only from companies that have a strong quality assurance system in place. Some may confuse quality assurance (QA) with quality control.
Quality control is a separate function and refers to the process of inspecting products to make sure they meet the company’s requirements and are free from defects. Quality assurance covers the behind-the-scenes activities to guarantee a worthy product, such as management objectives, training, tool and equipment selections, and laying out and defining the process to make the product.
Consumers expect viable companies to have a reputable QA platform, especially when it comes to products that directly affect safety. But in addition to customer satisfaction, businesses will find it behooves them to make quality assurance a priority since it also leads to cost savings, improved efficiency, trust building in terms of customer retention, and all in all, a better bottom line.
Cottrell Paper’s Family Legacy
Cottrell Paper Company was founded in 1926 in Upstate New York. In the early years in Rock City Falls, New York, we began by producing Rag paper. This insulating paper was ahead of its time, boasting a high-quality cotton fiber composition that proved highly effective due to its strength and sustainability.
Nearly a century later, the fourth generation of the family runs a 100,000 square foot plant in the Adirondack Mountains. We combine time-honored, reliable products with cutting-edge technology to serve the needs of our diverse customer base, with requirements that vary from precision electronics to large power transformers. We continue to stand by our founding principles of reliability, innovation, and providing superior craftsmanship.
Our commitment to upholding our family’s founding values while staying up to date on the current and future needs of our clientele has established us as a trusted paper manufacturer. Our position in the industry earned us international certification by ISO, specifically for our quality management system.
Commitment to Quality and ISO 9001 Certification
ISO 9001 derives from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO 9001 sets the global standard for quality management systems. (QMS). You can trace the model for ISO 9001 back to the 1950s when the governments of the US and UK developed standards for military procurement. The ideas navigated to the private management sector and were published as BS5750 in 1979. This developed into ISO 9001 in 1987 and was last updated in 2015.
Certification Requirements and Benefits
The ISO 9001 standards are extremely flexible and decided on by the individual company. That being said, specific requirements exist to qualify for ISO 9001 certification. The organization’s QMS must show that they are committed to consistently producing high-quality products or services to the satisfaction of customers, investors, and regulators. It’s vital to point out that the ISO 9001 certification doesn’t reflect the entire company, but its Quality Management System.
Earning the ISO 9001 certification does help build trust and credibility with customers and stakeholders. It also gives the company a competitive advantage by demonstrating a commitment to quality and meeting industry standards.
Our Commitment to ISO 9001
At Cottrell Paper Company, we take our ISO 9001 certification status very seriously. We ensure that all of our products are manufactured to guarantee reliability, no matter how demanding the application.
With nearly a century of experience, we know that the customers’ needs remain the same. We recognize the importance of precision and performance, and we tailor our approach to each client, ensuring they receive the best possible products and solutions for their business.
Impact on Industrial Paper Standards
Meeting the standards to qualify for ISO 9001 certification for QMS is reflected in its superior products and attention to customer service. We serve many different industries that rely on Cottrell Paper products, such as Copaco (Rag Paper), Kraft papers, and pressboards for their high durability and excellent test values. You can find Cottrell insulation papers in most household appliances and automobiles throughout the US.
We design our products to handle the toughest applications with superb performance. We cater to all our customers’ needs by providing the insulation papers in forms such as sheets, rolls, and slit rolls.
Sustainability is also part of our overall mission. In keeping with our green initiatives, we use post-industrial cotton waste as our primary raw material. Though acting environmentally responsible is popular and expected now, we have done so since our beginning in 1926.
Partner With a Century of Excellence
Four generations and nearly 100 years later, we look forward to a promising future. Though we’re proud of our history, we know that it has always been our ability to look ahead that makes us successful. We will continue to serve all our customers by delivering products that exceed their expectations.
As part of our QMS, we strive to keep improving our operations, ensuring that we remain a leader in the electrical paper industry and continue to earn our ISO 9001 certification status. If you have questions about any of our products or services or would like to learn more about Cottrell Paper Company’s ISO 9001 certified quality and legacy of excellence, we invite you to contact us online or call at (518) 885-1702. Let our legacy of innovation work for your success.
