INX International Ink Co. has created a Certified Business Management System after successfully earning certification for three key safety standards.

 

Eight INX properties achieved certification for the latest ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 safety standards, in addition to establishing first-time certification for the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OSHAS) 18001:2007 safety standard. The eight facilities include the corporate office and Research & Development Center at separate locations in Chicago’s western suburbs, as well as manufacturing complexes in Appleton, Wisconsin; Charlotte, North Carolina; Edwardsville, Kansas; Dunkirk, New York; and two in Illinois – Homewood and West Chicago. 

 

“The OSHAS 18001 standard will automatically carry over to ISO 45001 in 2018, and INX will have the OSHAS 18001 certification transferred during the next reassessment cycle,” said David Maternowski, INX vice president of business management systems. “This process began in mid-2016 and was important for us to achieve. The safety standard is desired by manufacturing facilities looking to implement legitimate systems to enhance employee safety.”

 

OHSAS 18001 was developed to be compatible with ISO 9001:2008 (for quality) and ISO 14001:2004 (for environmental) in order to facilitate the integration of quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems by organizations. Some advantages of an effective OHSAS management system include establishing and maintaining a commitment to occupational health and safety; demonstrating a strong commitment to safety excellence; and having organizational structures in place with clear roles and responsibilities.

 

The Certified Business Management System comes at an opportune time. INX recently broke ground on new construction at the Research & Development center in West Chicago that will double its space when completed in July 2018. The project is part of a multi-year capital improvements program. 

 

INX also opened a new manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Ohio in 2015, expanded the metal decorating plant ln Charlotte in 2016, and doubled the size of the Edwardsville manufacturing facility earlier this year. Parent company Sakata INX in Japan continues to build new or expand facilities throughout Asia.

 

“Continuous improvement has always been the goal, not just gaining certifications,” Maternowski said. “Our mission remains that to make a quality pound of ink, we will provide an environmentally sound facility and keep our employees safe every time. Going forward, our work has just begun. The detailed external audit we performed has produced a number of improvement recommendations that our Quality Group will address in a timely manner. This includes root cause analysis, planning and the implementation of real solutions.”