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- I 12 Clitheroe Advertiser < Ti lies, mu ten ^ouc, ivvu 6 mes, March 28th 1996 Clitheroe 22321, (Editorial), 22323


(Advertising). Burnley 1,22331 (Classified) ^


uest Standards for Excellence I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t e s L t d Y


OU might be surprised to learn that a locally


based quality system consulting business is achieving sales ot nearly £2m in the USA. The company Quest


International Associates Ltd., along with its “daughter” Quest USA was set up under the auspices of the Government’s Enterprise Allowance Scheme. Founder Mervyn Hewlett recognised the opportunity for Quest in the USA, during a visit to Detroit, . Michigan, in 1991. Mr Hewlett quickly observed that major organisations in the USA see the spreading requirement for ISO registration by European customers as an unofficial “trade barrier". In an effort to maintain a


competitive edge, several thousand companies in the


USA have responded to this by becoming registered and the number is growing. Mr Hewlett previously


worked as a management consultant before coming to Lancashire in 1989 as director of quality for a kitchenware firm in Burnley. He left that firm in 1990 when economic conditions forced him to dismantle a top class quality team he’d recruited. He then started his


consultancy business by working in South Africa and the UK-working with small companies doing grant aided sub-contract consulting work for a leading consulting firm in Manchester.


• Mr Hewlett recalls that in 1991 he was “receiving £40 per week on the Government Allowance Scheme and I couldn't believe how complicated and difficult a documented


-yi- S i—3.-A - V. i i&. * S ,iU V.Vfb- * C o l l e e n G r e e n iM e r v y n 'H ew le t t , ;^ y r ^ ; jH ew le t ; t


"SIMPLY THE BEST" ISO/QS 9000


I


quality system had to be to get ISO 9000 registration. Aware that the DTI


. Enterprise Initiative Scheme was rapidly being replaced as well as the implications for funding, Mr Hewlett Americanised Quest by using British expertise to show US managers the benefits of a “no nonsense" ISO 9000 quality system. With a concentrated focus on quality and service the “Quest Approach” quickly established itself and is successfully operating in a number of Fortune 500 companies. Mr Hewlett also acknowledges that opportunities exist in the US “because (as he put it) we have skills US companies need and are prepared to pay for—the same cannot be said of UK companies.” He believes this is a sad comment on


consultants are used to achieve results quickly. Consulting fees are a secondary consideration for larger more profitable organisations. There is also a consultancy


oriented culture in the USA which permits middle managers to hire consultants easily to work on departmental level projects. By and large, American managers do not feel threatened by consultants and US senior managers simply want results. However American


organisations do not fully appreciate that a quality system assessed externally by registrars such as BSI


. Quality Assurance, Lloyds Register, SGS ICS Ltd and others, are the driving force behind continuous improvement. Quest makes the point to companies that they shouldn’t “just get


9000 Quality systems.


Meet Quest U SA


ISO 14000 CE Marking


WORLD CLASS quality systems for WORLD CLASS clients For details of the Quest Approach,


Quest USA,Inc. St Clair Shores, MI 48081 - 1580 Tel: 1-800-878-1669 Fax: (810)-774-2709


We congratulate Quest and wish


them every success for the future


We offer a fall range of services to our clients, including:


• Domestic and commercial conveyancing


• Wills, trusts, probate • Divorce and matrimonial • Employment matters • Civil litigation


WHITTLE $ WHITTAKER S OL IC ITO RS


23 Carr Road, Nelson, Lancashire BB 9 7JS Telephone: 01282 603663. Fax 01282 695904


Offices:


73 Albert Road, Colne, Lancashire BBS OBP Telephone: 01282 863113. Fax 01282 870588


the UK’s “Enterprise Culture”. Quest’s clients are


predominantly “blue chip” companies, particularly in the automative, computer hardware, food processing, machine tool and telecommunications industries. Names like GTE Telephone Operatives, US West Communications, Motorola and others. Quest has found different


attitudes exist in American Corporations, there


For further


information on (mining .'nurses


offered by Quest on QSflllDO lol>u hold in May contact Mervyn Hewlett on 01282 8G7700


registered for the certificate on the wall. Get registered- by all means but with a quality system which will improve the overall business performance.” It is this belief which


ensures the success of Quest’s approach to ISO QS


USA, Inc. was established in the Detroit Metropolitan area in May 1992. The offices are located in St Clair Shores, Michigan which is a fashionable suburb of East Detroit, on the banks of Lake St Clair. The office provides selling, marketing and administration services to • clients and supports the consulting and training operations, making travel and accommodation arrangements for UK and American Consultants. There is a UK based director who runs the office on a day to day basis, spending a month at a time in the office with a short two week break between visits. In addition to the director there is an administration controller, sales executive and an administrative assistant. The financial controller reports directly to the managing director in the UK. There are two British and two American Consultants based in the USA who carry out consulting and training assignments for clients, all over the USA. This basic resource is supplemented by experienced consultants who travel to the USA on monthly tours, visiting clients in most parts of the USA.


F


What Next?


Hewlett has no doubts “the business must continue to expand rapidly in the USA; success in the USA must lead to success in the UK and in Europe.” Last year Quest carried out assignments in France and Germany. In the USA, Quest is opening an office in Denver, Colorado and hopes to open further offices in Florida and Virginia during the year


W Quest


introduces QS 9000 to


the UK and Europe


' V ' U S A Q u e s t . D i r e c t o r C o l le e n -G r e e n O t y s ^ u s s in g p la n n in g - i s s u c s


[ HE motor industry's new worldwide


ISO 14000 FORtE^ttELLEN? ~ ‘ A CE Marking


Public Seminars at Manchester:- Understanding QS 9000 May 22nd 1996 '


Phone now for further information and to book your place:


Quest International Associates Limited. Brooke House, Colne Road, Trawden. Lancashire BB8 8 Tel: (01282) 867700 Fax: (01282) 869749


8PF Quality System Assessment May 23 and 24th 1996


HAT is the next step for Quest? Mervyn


ollowing a number of visits to the USA, Quest


international quality standard is being introduced to the UK by Quest with a range of specialised consulting and training services. Several local companies have already benefitted from Quest’s Detroit experience where four companies using the Quest Approach have had their quality systems approved to the tough new standard. QS 9000 is based upon the


system principles of ISO 9000 but with added teeth in several key areas. Quest’s one day “Understanding QS 9000 Quality systems" training course gives the basic information required to upgrade present ISO 9000 registered quality systems.


N o r th e rn I r e la n d


UK Ltd has been the recent approval by Northern


O


NE exciting development for Quest Associated


and the company’s managements want success to secure future growth and employment.” Mervyn Hewlett comments: “It is a pleasure to work there but please don’t ask about the cost of airtravel from Manchester!” : Quest is looking forward to


further expanding its range of consulting and training services in the Province by recruiting a new full time sales person for the region. Quest’s expansion and development is the reality of Mr Hewlett's vision back in 1990. He remains adamant that assistance from local organisations such as Pendle Enterprise Trust and his hank National Westminster was crucial to Quest in it’s early stages. In particular Mr Hewlett would advise that business owners maintain a close link with their compnay’s hankers. Quest is also establishing an “agency relationship” with an accredited Registrar:


companies; the organisation held an International Financial Planning


Conference in the area in March, to discuss further expansion of the USA business.


S ta n d a rd s w h ic h t e l l th e w o r ld h o w g o o d y o u are


ISO 9000 QS9000


International standards mean international recognition which leads to more business.


With Quest’s specialists training your company can achieve recognised quality standards which will enhance


your competitive edge; your reputation and ultimately, your profit margin..


“your standards will tell them how good you are”


'uest ."for EXCELLENCE


Quest International Associates Ltd Brooke Howe, Colne Road, Trawden


Lanes BB88PF


Tel: (01282) 867700 Fax: (01282) 869749


Subnet Ltd are pleased to announce that they will be pursuing ISO 9001 with Quest International Associates and wish them every success in tbe future.


sub.n e t ,


K http/wwwjubnftauib'sublnfo prowd»f«


WI TRAINING Tel: +44(0)1282 6l6000 » Fax: +44(0) 1282 692915


Ireland’s Advisory Service to Industry (ASI) of the Quest Approach to QS 9000. The organisation is working with several companies supplying components to the worldwide motor industry. Working in Northern


Ireland is proving popular with Quest consultants: “It is closer than the USA, there is no language barrier


URS. With offices in Blackpool URS are currently registering, companies to IS09000 and in the very near future will add QS9000.


International Conference


S a symbol of the growth of the


aQuest group of


Subnet Ltd, Glenilcld Park, Lomeshayc Business Milage, Nelson, Lancashire. BB9 7DR


D ' t f e .


S TAR WO R K S , N EWA R K S T R E E T , A C C R I N G T O N . BB 5 OBP Teleph on e: 0 1 2 S 4 3 9 SS I 2 F n c s i m i l i e : 0 12 5 4 395262


M E R C E R P R I N T ( U K ) LTD


Hargreaves Brown & Benson


C h a r t e r e d A c c o u n t a n t s m i


W e are pleased to be part of the "QUEST" success story


2 Derby Street, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 9AD Telephone (01282) 864646 Fax (01282) 863883


DJ. EVANS FCA DJ. MIDDLETON FCA SJ. WOOD FCA MJ. EVANS BSc ACA


UNDERSTANDING QS9000 AND THE QUALITY SYSTEM ASSESSMENT (QSA) DOCUMENT SEMINARS'


With offices in the UK and Detroit USA, Quest has developed training courses that help you to understand the requirements of QS9000 and the QSA document.


ISO/QS 9000


We are pleased to be associated with


Quest and wish them every success fo r the fu tu re


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