Success Stories

MEP Member

Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Story Title

Blair Composites LLC Reaches New Markets with ISO Certification

Client Profile

Blair Composites, LLC, located in Greeneville, Tennessee is a custom fiberglass fabricator serving the commercial, industrial, automotive, military, and metal fabrication markets. The company employs 35 people.

Situation

Blair Composites LLC was experiencing volatile sales patterns in the retail signage business which had become the primary customer base for their business. They desired to move to a more diversified customer base by re-entering the aerospace and military industry, where they had sizeable contracts in the past. In order to bid on projects in these industries, companies are now required to have ISO-9001 and AS-9100 certification. Blair Composites was limited in its ability to get new contracts in these markets without having ISO Certification, as a minimum. The company requested the assistance of Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership (TMEP), a NIST MEP network affiliate, with the preparation for ISO certification.

Solution

TMEP’s assistance included ISO system training, coaching, and project management by the University of Tennessee-Center for Industrial Services (UT-CIS) Quality Systems Consultant, David Jones. The Blair Composites staff was fully engaged during the implementation of the ISO quality system. As a result of assistance provided by TMEP, Blair Composites achieved ISO 9001:2008 registration and was awarded a new contract valued at $200,000.

Results

• Achieved ISO 9001:2008 registration.
• Awarded a new contract.
• Invested $24,000 in ISO implementation.
• Invested $30,000 in plant and equipment.
• Retained 4 jobs.

Testimonial

“David Jones from UT-CIS was instrumental in Blair Composites’ achievement of ISO-9001:2008 registration. David led our team, in a very organized and efficient manner, to the development of a system that helps Blair Composites improve and grow.”
Mike Carlton, Vice President