H Foster 1875
H Foster 1875 has a long heritage in stockholding and supply of fatty acids, wax, oils and derivative chemicals to the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and lubricant industries. Customers range from bulk users to cottage industries, served by a substantial warehouse and an online shop.
QFactorial were asked to review and update the existing management system to align with business changes, growth and a strong emphasis on sustainable supply chains. The initial focus was to establish a new business management system to meet operational needs and achieve ISO 9001 certification for the head office in Goring-on-Thames and the warehouse in Leeds. This provided the foundation for the second phase of work, integrating the company’s environmental objectives and achieving ISO 14001 certification.
2
Standards
1
Integrated Management System
QFactorial Service offering
Implementation
Our gap and synergy diagnostic approach once again proved its worth as we were able to quickly identify the necessary changes and additions to existing business processes. The methodology helped us to align our collaborative solution with ongoing business improvements in the areas of CRM, e-commerce and sustainable sourcing. Our constantly evolving toolkit was further enhanced during this project with the successful application of our new worksheet for analysing environmental aspects and impacts. Other key tools such as the business scorecard and action tracker were, as ever, re-sharpened to meet the particular business context.
There is a world of difference between doing ISO for the certificate and doing it for the benefits. It is a joy to work with clients for whom quality and environmental sustainability are right at the heart of business strategy and embedded in every conversation. The thing about ISO 14001 is that it only really works if you are serious about reducing your carbon footprint and establishing a sustainable supply chain.
Even the twin challenges of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic did not deflect Fosters from the project roadmap, with ISO 14001 being achieved in February 2021. Having delivered a robust BMS solution and established a value-adding cycle of quarterly audits and reviews, we now look forward to helping Fosters achieve even greater quality and environmental objectives. Onwards and upwards!
Q! Feedback
After our ISO manager left the company, we employed the services of QFactorial to help us update our onerous and outdated ISO manual. They rewrote our ISO manual into a useable Business Management System, reducing the number of documents substantially and producing a modern, concise system well matched to our business needs. Audits are conducted sensibly, using a common-sense approach to observations and non-conformancies. The feedback provides highlights as well as areas for improvement rather than nit-picking. After we achieved ISO 9001, we decided to go for ISO 14001, and again QFactorial’s experience was invaluable. Even the complex world of environmental legislation was made easy to understand and as a result we have been able to record our environmental impact and demonstrate through our certificate that we are environmentally responsible. We are happy to continue our relationship with QFactorial as consultants to assist us in maintaining our BMS.
