Quality Excellence Award for Atlas Copco Airpower

Atlas Copco Airpower is awarded this year’s Quality Excellence Award and honored for its exemplary use of quality management software in its production companies worldwide to enhance production efficiency, quality and enhanced collaboration.

Profile: Atlas Copco Airpower

More than 3000 employees take care of the development and production of compressors, dryers and filters, among other things, every day. It is the Atlas Copco Groups compressor research center in Wilrijk that also houses more than 200 IT professionals and a global logistics center.

Handover of the Quality Excellence Award to Atlas Copco Airpower in Wilrijk in Belgium

Awarding Excellence - Atlas Copco Airpower

Out of our more than 1,200 customers, Atlas Copco Airpower was one of the few companies, that came out on top in this year`s award process:

The award jury praises Atlas Copco for their outstanding performance:

Our jury honors Atlas Copco as one of the most impressive applications in this year’s selection process. The introduction of CAQ.Net software in 20 production companies at 14 locations worldwide has streamlined quality assurance processes and improved collaboration between over 400 employees. This underlines for us the high level of production efficiency and quality at Atlas Copco. This integration demonstrates to us a true passion for quality.

Recognition for Excellence in worldwide production efficiency and quality

Atlas Copco’s quality assurance management consists of different software modules aimed at (i) auditing, (ii) managing non-conformities, (iii) tools management, (iv) measurements and (v) document management. A modular approach enables Atlas Copco to implement and integrate the quality software seamlessly across various departments.

The CAQ quality assurance application has been rolled out to 20 different production companies across 14 sites worldwide. More than 400 employees use the software to further enhance quality assurance processes.

Atlas Copco’s commitment to deliver the highest possible quality assurance to customers is always at the core of our operations. Production quality and operational efficiency is key.
– Wouter Ceulemans, President of the Airtec Division –

A successful example of quality enhancement lies within the field of tools management. The quality software module is indispensable for managing all aspects related to production tools and equipment. The quality module streamlines the processes for calibration, maintenance, certificate handling, and the lending and returning of tools ensuring the equipment is always in optimal condition and ready for use.

Within the area of machining, quality control software gathers critical measurement data. It ensures that all measurements of our core compressor elements remain within set boundaries, living up to high standards of precision and quality.

By providing the right quality management software to our production companies, we improve our operational efficiency, reduce errors and ensure compliance with industry standards and meeting the stringent quality expectations of our customers.”
– Kris Feys, Vice President Information Systems –

Enhanced collaboration and satisfaction

The successful quality management system contributes to great collaboration and increased satisfaction amongst production workers.

The software’s audit module, as an example, is actively used to perform audits, commissioning checks, and share actions with a multitude of stakeholders. This includes not only operators but also preventive maintenance and preventive officers, ensuring a comprehensive approach to quality management. The ability to involve various stakeholders in the audit process fosters a culture of collaboration and accountability.

A similar transformative impact occurs by streamlining the management of non-conformities. It enables to analyze data more effectively and implement preventive measures to avoid future quality deviations. This proactive approach improves the quality outcome but also increases employee confidence in the quality management system.

Qualitative tools management ensures that all production tools, such as torque screws, induction hobs, testing cables or lifting tools, are always in optimal condition, which leads to greater employee satisfaction and involvement, as employees can rely on well-maintained tools to perform their tasks effectively.

"The integration of CAQ’s quality software across various departments has facilitated better communication and coordination amongst colleagues. The ability to share information and collaborate on quality-related tasks has empowered our staff to take ownership of their roles in maintaining high standards. This increased involvement has not only improved the overall quality of our products but also boosted employee satisfaction. We are honored to receive the Quality Excellence Award,” concludes Kris Feys, Vice President Information Systems.