Quality and Compliance

BS EN ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System

The Quality Management System maintained by DMM is registered to BS EN ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Requirements. The main aim of this system is reflected in our Mission Statement:

“Together each one of us will make a better, safer product for our customers”.

Our system has evolved and continues to evolve as a result of nearly 30 years of development, investment and improvement to all of our activities. ‘Quality’ both actual and perceived is our number one objective, reflecting the fact that each and every day thousands of people around the world rely on DMM products to save their lives. Our system is audited and supervised by SGS (UK) Ltd and other independent third party auditors (e.g. customers and potential customers, trading standards and other regulatory bodies) at regular intervals to ensure continuing compliance to the requirements of BS EN ISO9001:2015, and as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.

CE Marking and Product Conformance

The CE marking process is known as ‘Type Examination’ and is an important supplement to our Quality Management System. In line with the requirements of European Union Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] Directive 89/686/EEC, all products designed and manufactured by DMM which are classified as PPE are independently Type Examined and tested to the relevant European Standard for Mountaineering & Industrial Fall Arrest. Only after meeting the requirements of the PPE Directive and the relevant European Standard are we allowed to mark 0120CE [the “CE” mark] on our products, type examination and CE marking is a legal requirement in Europe for all height safety PPE whether for industrial or leisure use.

BS EN ISO 9001:2015 compliance and CE marking/ product conformance are monitored by CEN [Committee for European Normalization. Notified Body No. 0120 [SGS UK Ltd., Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, UK]. It is also a legal requirement that we maintain our Quality Management System as part of the PPE Directive ‘CE’ marking process.

In addition, many DMM products also conform to other non-European standards (for example ANSI and CAN/CSA for North American conformance). More information about these products can be found on our web site or by enquiring directly to our Sales Team.

4th November 2019: notified body transfer update

3-Sigma Testing

This is our system for setting and monitoring the strength ratings as marked on our products, in line with the minimum requirements of the relevant European and other Standards, the ‘3 Sigma Testing’ method. DMM were the first company in our industry to use this Statistical Quality Control [SQC] technique. Using test data derived from samples tested to destruction at the design stage we can set the strength rating of the product. We then have a system of ongoing batch testing which monitors and ensures that the rated strength is maintained and actually exceeded.

Part of our philosophy at DMM is to continue to improve the breaking strength of our products in excess of the standards which may be required. We do this to lessen the chance of failure in situations and conditions which might not be reflected in the standard but which we know as climbers ourselves can cause product failure.

UIAA Safety Labels

The UIAA stands for the Union of International Alpinists Associations and it is a body which promotes the safety and interests of all parties involved in mountaineering and related activities worldwide. The UIAA publish standards for mountaineering equipment which supplement the requirements of the corresponding European Standards mentioned above. UIAA Mountaineering Standards

Investor in People

DMM were the first manufacturing company in Wales to be registered to the Investor in People [IIP] standard [July 1992] and in September 2016 we achieved the prestigious Gold Award. This standard is people orientated and its main objectives are: [a] to develop strategies to improve the performance of the organisation through its people; [b] to ensure that the organisation takes action in order to improve its performance through its people; and [c] to evaluate the impact of this investment in people on the performance of the organisation. IIP is more than just a training system. The IIP system is a key mechanism that helps us to target areas for improvement in all aspects of the business.

Certificates

Directive 89/686/EEC Article 11B
Investors in People Certificate
EU Declaration of Conformity
PPE Regulation 2016/425 "as brought into UK law and amended" Module D
Regulation (EU) 2016/425 Module D
DMM International & DMM Engineering ISO9001:2015 Certificate

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