Custom Materials, Inc., located in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, completes internal audit training for a group of their employees. The training was completed on April 21, 2005, and was conducted by John Novak of KAVON International, Inc. These employees will use their new skills to monitor and evaluate the status of their upcoming ISO 9001:2000 certification.

The concept of a process was introduced and defined during the class, including the four key components (inputs, activities, outputs, and measures). This defined the foundation of the process approach for internal auditing and helped each student gain an understanding of the approach to be used in dissecting the Quality Management System into auditable pieces.

Techniques on how to audit each of these components were discussed, including specific information to collect on each component to help determine process effectiveness. Numerous forms for documenting the findings were included. Actual audits were conducted after the classroom training was completed in order to apply what was learned. The emphasis throughout the training was that the internal auditing process must add value to the organization in order to be useful.

Custom Materials Inc. is the leading producer of electrical insulation and components for all major manufacturers of electrical power generation, distribution equipment, and controls. Their components range from insulation used in transformers, motors and motor controls to insulation for rubber presses and even gaskets for bushings. While insulation is a core business, through their diverse manufacturing capabilities, they also provide plastic and metal fabrication, as well as complete sub-assemblies.

Custom Materials, Inc. is seeking certification to ISO 9001:2000.