Top quality award for Remploy Automotive

Disabled workers at Remploy Automotive have opened the doors to new business after winning a world-leading quality award.

Remploy’s Bridgend factory has become one of the first plants in Britain to gain the sought-after TS 16949 quality assurance certificate, the automotive version of the ISO 9001:2000 management system. It has taken a year of dedicated hard work to win the top honour.

The Bridgend factory does component work for Honda; Hella, the German-owned car lighting firm and Harma, the car hi-fi speaker company.  Remploy also makes electric harnesses, which are supplied to Lotus.

BSI, who awarded the TS 16949 registration, said it was a remarkable achievement. All but four of the 92 employees at Remploy’s Bridgend factory are disabled.

Neil Hannah, managing director of BSI Management Systems (UK) says: “A great deal of hard work is required to reach TS 16949 status. This certification aims to improve relationships with clients and suppliers through the highest of standards in management processes.  The employees at Remploy’s Bridgend factory deserve to be congratulated on their achievement.”     

Beverley Parker, Manager of the Bridgend operation, says: “We have just had a visit from a Japanese-owned company who told us they only considered us as a supplier once they knew we had TS 16949.

“Now we have the award we hope to win more business because TS 16949 will become the benchmark across the industry as a mark of quality assurance.

“Everyone here is so proud of winning this award because it proves to everyone that we are really professional in all aspects of our work.”

Now the Bridgend site is to help Remploy Automotive’s five other sites in Britain to work towards the internationally recognised qualification.

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A high resolution image is available on request.

For more information please contact:

Wilma Tulloch on +44 (0)20 8996 6330 OR
Marc Edney on +44 (0)20 8996 6330