Inplex is ISO 9001:2015 and IMS Certified – But What Does That Mean?

Certifications help prove to customers that manufacturers can not only fill their orders, but live up to the highest quality standards. At a time when companies are faced with greater demand for quality and flexibility than ever, it is essential that manufacturers be able to back their products with demonstrations of their excellence.

‌Two of the most prestigious entities from which manufacturers can obtain certifications are the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and the Interstate Milk Shippers (IMS). 

‌The former spans industries ranging from the oil and gas sector to information technology, while the latter helps manufacturers provide products for the dairy industry Demonstrating our commitment to quality, Inplex is certified in both of them. Below, we explain a little bit more about the certifications.

‌What It Means To Be ISO 9001:2015 Certified

From the food safety and agricultural sectors to energy and environmental operations, the ISO oversees a wide range of quality management systems. Different industries require different forms of quality assurance protocols. Because of this, it’s necessary for a standardization body to establish a set of criteria to ensure companies are adhering to best practices across the diverse industries that they supply.

‌As an example, clients in the oil and gas industry will require plastic tubing that possesses a certain corrosion resistance at temperatures higher than that of the food and agricultural industry. Despite a need for corrosion resistance, clients in the food and agricultural industry may also require the exclusive use of food-grade safe compounds in their tubing fabrication. 

‌Because the two have very different quality assurance requirements, the presence of a unified standard that transcends industrial particularities helps organizations develop quality management systems (QMS) that can satisfy them all. 

‌The ISO 9001:2015 standard defines its objective as the specification of QMS requirements when an organization: ‌‌”a) needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and‌ b) aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.”

‌A testament to the encompassing nature of ISO 9001:2015 requirements, the language of the standard is described as applicable to any organization, regardless of its size. The purpose of the ISO 9001:2015 standard is to provide a set of metrics and procedures that manufacturers can use across any industry regardless of scope, in order to attain the level of quality that customers demand.

‌What having this certification means for you: Our ISO 9001:2015 certification shows that we have a quality assurance system in place that can meet a diverse set of industry-specific requirements.

‌What’s IMS Certification & How It Can Benefit You

Interstate Milk Shippers(IMS) is a cooperative program between Federal and State governments, allowing milk processors to purchase materials from hygienic plants throughout the world. Approved by the FDA, dairy processors can purchase tools and resources to produce their products from manufacturers who are certified.

The IMS certification requires manufacturing plants to comply with the FDA regulations. However, before a certification is obtained, there is some criteria that must be met, including:

• An inspection of the manufacturing facility, done on an annual basis by an FDA authorized auditor.
• Samples of finished product or pre-converted materials from the manufacturing plant needs to be analyzed in a U.S regulated laboratory certified by the FDA.
• All raw materials, including plastic resins, masterbatch, processing aids and other materials must meet the basic requirements and be classified as non-toxic.

‌What the IMS Certification means for you: Our IMS certification proves that we can communicate cohesively on internal operations, enabling us to meet our clients’ needs without letting any slip through the gaps.

‌Inplex, A Certified Plastic Profile Provider

At Inplex, our team of plastic tubing experts can meet the diverse needs of the clients who depend on our products. Whether its co-extrusion, jacketing, or a host of custom extrusion techniques, we have the experience, tools, and knowledge to turn your plastic extrusion project into a reality. We believe in quality products and have  quality assurance methods in place to ensure you receive the best. 

‌We also have an integrated management system that ensures our compliance across all relevant regulatory channels. Our ISO 9001:2015 and IMS certifications prove our ability to create the plastic tubing our customers need, contact us today to see what we can do for you.