BSI Case Study: Joedan Group
Certification: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 andBSI Kitemarks

Certification by BSI to key management systemand product standards is reaping rewards for home
improvements group Joedan“Each of our standards drives
efficiencies and puts the relevant
controls in place. The benefits far
outweigh the costs. And certification
by such a reputable brand as BSI is agreat marketing tool. It helps us win
business – it’s helping us big time.”
Harpal Singh,
Executive Director, Quality Department,
Joedan Group

Joedan Group in brief

Certification benefits

Joedan Group is a family-owned
supplier of conservatories, orangeries,porches and solid roofs, as well as
replacement doors and windows madefrom aluminium or UPVC. Founded in1985 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire,
Joedan is now based in purpose-built
premises in nearby Ashchurch. The
company has grown steadily and today
it also operates from three further
locations, carrying out contracts
throughout the Midlands and southof England. Joedan is committed tooffering high quality products andservice. It is fulfilling this aim withthe help of certification by BSI to key
management system standards andmultiple BSI Kitemarks – boosting
business performance.

• Proof of performance of quality andenvironmental management systems• Proof of product quality, including
weather performance and security• Proof of high quality installation• Meeting contract requirements forindependent verification• Compliance with regulatory
requirements and industry standards• Reassurance for commercial andretail customers• Competitive advantage and improved
business performance.

BSI Case Study: Joedan GroupWhy the BSI Kitemark?

Joedan’s service begins by understanding
each individual customer’s requirements. Its
salespeople are all employed by the company
to help customers tailor their chosen product– from a new conservatory to replacement
doors and windows – to match their needs andpreferences.

Joedan carries out a significant number ofcommercial contracts, for example, for local
authorities. Such customers, led by government
procurement policies, invariably send detailed
pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs)
specifying a demanding quality threshold.
Indeed, the law now stipulates that newbuild projects requiring Building Regulations
approval must have windows and doors madeto a design that meets stringent thermal
insulation and security requirements.

The company’s investment in IT means
that, following a full on-site survey with thecustomer, detailed specifications are checked
and verified before being automaticallytranslated into an order for production in its
factory. All Joedan’s products are manufactured
on site, and it even encourages customers tosee them being made if they wish

Steeped in standards
Joedan’s delivery of top quality products
and services is supported by its high level oftechnical expertise, and underpinned by its
commitment to business standards. Theseinclude long-held certification to two key
management system standards, ISO 9001
for Quality and ISO 14001 for Environmental
Management.
As Harpal Singh, Joedan’s Executive Director,Quality Department, explains, “These twostandards have become pretty much a basic
requirement in our industry, and without them
we would struggle to compete.”
Joedan has recently awarded responsibility forthe audit and certification of these standards
to BSI. “Our standards used to be scattered
between different certification bodies, sofor efficiency and consistency of approach
we wanted to consolidate them,” says Singh.
“My first thought was ‘Who better than BSI?’,
because of the strength of its reputation.”
The company has also achieved certification
to a range of equally highly regarded BSI
Kitemarks. For more than 10 years it has
maintained three Kitemark licences forthe security and weather performanceof the aluminium windows and doors it
manufactures. Most recently, in March 2017, itachieved a fourth – BS 8213-4 for the survey
and installation of windows and doorsets.

“Public sector organizations and professionalbuyers insist that product performance claims
are independently verified,” says Singh. “Weare invariably asked for either certificationor test evidence, for example, to prove thestrength and ‘U value’ [a heat loss metric] ofour products, before we can be consideredfor ‘approved supplier’ status. Having our BSI
Kitemarks means we can automatically clear
this hurdle. It makes it much quicker and easierfor us to respond effectively to PQQs.”
He continues, “On the retail side of ourbusiness, we also find that customers holdthe BSI Kitemark logo in high regard – so wemake a point of displaying it on our literature
and website, and in our showroom. It gives
consumers confidence that we are supplying
products that are fit for purpose.”

Compliance and customer assurance
There have been significant developments overthe past few years in the design of components
and materials used in the fabrication of windows
and doors. Products are now considerably more
thermally efficient, durable and secure. “Buta product is only as good as its installation,”
observes Singh. “If windows and doors are fitted
poorly, you’re going to get problems.”
This is where BS 8213-4 – the British Standard
code of practice that gives guidance on survey
and installation procedures – comes to thefore. A revised and updated standard waspublished in 2016, replacing the 2007 version
that no longer reflected advances in products,
fixing materials, installation techniques andperformance requirements.

“This is a very important Kitemark for us, for
two reasons,” says Singh. “Firstly, we can’t be
let down by poor installation of windows anddoors, so audit and certification by BSI makes
sure that we are complying with all aspects ofthe standard and the industry code of practice.
“Secondly, not many window companies have
got this certification, so it definitely gives us
a competitive edge in our marketplace. It hascaused quite a few raised eyebrows amongcustomers, who tend to say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know
you could get a Kitemark for installation’.
They’re pleasantly surprised, because it gives
them that extra assurance that installations aresubject to an external audit by BSI.”

Lasting benefits
While Joedan is proud of achieving andmaintaining a portfolio of BSI certifications, itis the wider, long-term business benefits theybring that matter most. In the case of its BSI
Kitemark for BS 8213-4, for example, “I felt
from the start that this scheme could play animportant role in positioning the business for
growth – and that’s what we’re seeing now,”
says Singh.
“Each of our standards drives efficiencies
and puts the relevant controls in place,” hecontinues. “They strengthen our internal
processes and also motivate our staff. People
have really bought into them. We’ve had lotsof ideas from every area of the business andwe’ve made significant savings from increased
efficiency and reduced waste.”
While Singh acknowledges that certification
requires a commitment of time, money andeffort, he says BSI’s experts ease the process,willingly providing information and guidance,
while the excellent long-term relationshipbetween Joedan and BSI is built on trust andstrengthened by regular communication.
“I can’t put figures on it, but overall the benefits
far outweigh the costs,” he concludes. “Andcertification by such a reputable brand as BSI isa great marketing tool. It helps us win business– it’s helping us big time.”

Contact us to find out how BSI
certification can help your businessmake excellence a habit.

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Business background

BSI/UK/1193-/PC/1017/EN/BLDCertification: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and BSI Kitemarks