For quality timber frame, Benfield ATT comes FIRST!

Customer surveys have revealed that quality and customer satisfaction have not been the primary concern of the construction industry. Now Benfield ATT have set the pace in the quality race by becoming the first professional Timber Frame designers, engineers, manufacturers and erectors in England and Wales to become ISO 9001: 2000 registered.

The 2001 National Customer Satisfaction survey showed that house building has many improvements to make to its customer satisfaction programme. The challenge: Deliver a better quality product and a more efficient customer care service" (The Housing Forum, 2002). Benfield ATT (Advanced Timber Technology), based in Caldicot, South Wales are proving to be the forerunner in the quest to provide quality after gaining their prestigious ISO 9001:2000 certification on 9th May.

Dr Michael Benfield, Managing Director of Benfield ATT said Naturally, I am delighted. We have set and achieved new standards not only for ourselves, but also for the industry as a whole. To have achieved this accreditation in 4 months is remarkable; a real credit to everyone in the Company."

Benfield ATT s Quality Assurance Procedure has already been established for 6 months -- being put in place after the business changed ownership from ATT (who produced the famed Scandia-Hus, energy efficient, Swedish style houses for the UK) to Benfield ATT in late October 2002. A recent local authority schools contractor said The panels are stunning", while a builder developer commented We are really pleased with the quality of the panels and the service we receive."

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer of standards. The latest ISO 9000:2000 series is concerned with "quality management" - what the organization does to enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer and applicable regulatory requirements, as well as continually striving to improve its performance in this regard. Being customer-focused means that Benfield ATT understands its customers current and future needs, meets customer requirements and tries to exceed customer expectations. Their 9001" designation covers design, manufacture & build.

Products and services at Benfield ATT are delivered under the most stringent requirements. The Companys entire process, from frame design, structural engineering and manufacture to on-site erection and completion, was assessed by SGS -- the internationally recognised, independently monitored Quality Assurance assessors. For example, in the manufacturing process each of Benfield ATTs panels is labelled so that its maker, the date it was made, and even the supplier the wood came from, can be traced. Each panel is inspected at least twice -- on completion and on final inspection. The panels are even sequenced in a way that makes it quicker and easier for the builder on site. Benfield ATTs Quality Procedure ensures that everything -- from employee training and development to purchasing - is engineered towards ensuring quality products and services. It is this procedure that has enabled the company to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2000.

Customer requirements and market changes now drive house-builders to review their approach to serving their customers. In an environment where performance and service bench marks include quality of construction, finish, value for money, dealing with defects and snags and meeting deadlines, its fairly obvious that ISO 9001 : 2000 will be on everyones minds.

Reference
The Housing Forum, 2002 Homing in on Excellence - A commentary on the use of offsite fabrication methods for the UK House building Industry" The Housing Forum - Rethinking Construction

ENDS
Further Information from Leanne Powell 01291 437 050