What to look for when choosing a foundry (part 2)

Published - 13th Dec 2017

If you’re choosing a foundry, you’ll need to weigh up a whole host of factors – not just technical considerations and cost. In Part 1, we looked at the importance of visiting your prospective supplier – meeting the team and seeing the facilities first hand.

In the second part, we turn the spotlight on quality control and environmental considerations.

Quality control and accreditation

Quality control is all-important in aluminium sand casting so it’s vital to find out how your prospective supplier manages this task. Is there a dedicated quality manager or team on site? How is quality control managed on a day-to-day basis?

Many businesses, particularly those producing safety-critical parts, will also be looking for a supplier who holds ISO 9001 accreditation. This is one of the world’s most recognised quality management standards, enabling companies to demonstrate that they offer products and services of consistently good quality.

The certification process, which is carried out by independent external assessors, covers a whole range of issues such as health and safety, procurement, engineering processes, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) and risk management. Most companies feature the ISO quality symbol on their website or, if not, you can always ask to see their ISO certificate.

We’re very proud that Haworth Castings has recently achieved accreditation to the latest standard, ISO 9001:2015, following a visit by the assessors. This award demonstrates that we are operating in line with best practice and, in fact, ahead of many businesses in achieving this accreditation.

Environmental responsibility

It’s important to choose a supplier who takes their environmental responsibilities seriously. Operating in a sustainable way can be a challenge for any business that deals with potentially hazardous materials and chemicals. So, find out how the company manages any hazardous emissions and whether scrap metal and materials are recycled.

At Haworth Castings, we strive to operate to the highest environmental standards. In recent years, we’ve invested in a state-of-the-art sand reclamation facility, which allows us to recycle 100% of sand and minimise waste sent to landfill.

We also work very closely with the local council in our area to manage our emissions in line with legislative requirements and address any concerns from the local community promptly and effectively. This ensures that we play our role as a responsible business. And any professional foundry should be fulfilling their responsibilities in a similar way.

With these factors in mind, you should be able to make a well-informed decision about whether to proceed with the supplier.

For more information on our casting work, please call us today on +44 (0)1794 512685 or email us: sales@haworthcastings.co.uk