Cross-sector exchange of experience

Thomas Knöfel, the QM officer at BUTTING in Knesebeck, recently welcomed members of Kooperationsinitiative Maschinenbau e.V., the Mechanical Engineering Cooperative Initiative (KIM) to our company premises in Knesebeck. A number of member company representatives took part in the information exchange of the working group on quality.

The Kooperationsinitiative Maschinenbau e.V. is a group of currently 26 small and medium-sized companies in the mechanical engineering and plant construction field to create an effective network in the Braunschweig area. The Employers Association for the Braunschweig region (AGV Braunschweig), the Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences and the Braunschweig University of Technology are other important members of the cooperative group. The shared objectives are safeguarding the area as a location for industry, creating and preserving jobs and strengthening the economy of the entire region. With over 5,800 employees and an annual turnover of more than EUR 1.2 billion, the KIM Group is a strong partner for regional suppliers.

Experts from the companies meet regularly in working groups, in order to cooperate in their various specialist areas. For example, the working group on quality meets regularly on the premises of the different members. In addition to maintaining contacts, exchange of information and experience plays an important role.

Before Thomas Knöfel invited participants on a tour of the plant, the most recent meeting focussed on the changes to the draft standard, DIN EN ISO 9001:2015. This was introduced and discussed in a productive working atmosphere. The topics of “key process indicators” and “risk management” in particular were discussed and characterised in greater detail.

BUTTING - Progress by Tradition