'Milestone' award puts construction company at the front of the pack

quality which they are currently achieving with the granting of BS5750

Quality Assurance accreditation to all six of their area offices.

But already the company are making plans to improve the high standards

which have seen them become one of the first construction companies in

Scotland, and within the first 10 in the UK, to achieve registration to

BS5750 standard.

Earlier this week Scottish Housing Minister Lord James

Douglas-Hamilton made the official presentation of the prestigious award

at the company's Glasgow regional office.

The ceremony marked months of sustained effort by staff at all levels

of the company and the global award to the Hall & Tawse Scotland

operations follows the granting of BS5750 to their Aberdeen-based

joinery workshop in April last year.

''We are obviously extremely pleased at the award of BS5750,

particularly as we achieved it in these difficult economic times,'' said

acting managing director Mr Jim Leask.

''We have always been a quality-conscious company but this award

provides formal acknowledgement on a nationwide basis of the high

standard of our quality assurance management systems. What it does is

tells our clients and customers that within our company we operate

rigorous, but flexible, fully documented and British Standard-recognised

quality assurance management systems. That has to be to the benefit of

both ourselves and our customers.''

Mr Leask pointed out that in the not too distant future most, if not

all, existing and potential customers of Hall & Tawse would restrict

their tender lists to companies who are BS5750 registered. These include

the Ministry of Defence, the Department of the Environment, hospital

boards, and local authorities.

''In a sense we anticipated this trend and reacted in a fully

committed manner to achieve what has to be regarded as vital

accreditation,'' said Mr Leask. ''Our success has placed Hall & Tawse at

the front of the pack.''

Mr Andrew Westwood, Quality Assurance Manager, explained that the

BS5750 accreditation process started with the Aberdeen office in mid

June, was followed by Glasgow and Perth in August, and Elgin,

Fraserburgh and Broxburn in October.

''The whole exercise took 14 man days and the number of

non-conformances raised was remarkably few. Many simply involved

re-wording paragraphs in the manuals.

''At the outset during our 'Quality Awareness Campaign' it was

emphasised that accreditation was not the goal, but a milestone. A

significant one but nevertheless a stage along the route towards lasting

success.

''What we have achieved is a documented system showing how we run our

business now. The next stage is to examine our system and decide if that

is the way forward and to change where necessary to meet the demands of

our customers. This change must be controlled and effective to be of any

value.''

Mr Westwood said that weaknesses in the Hall & Tawse operations had

been discovered and improvements were under way. His job, through

audits, was to identify further problems and refine the systems to

eliminate them.

Hall & Tawse Scotland Ltd operate through a network of strategically

located regional companies and they have clearly defined objectives.

For their clients they promise ''first-class quality and service'' and

for the community and environment ''support care and consideration''.

One of the clearest testaments to the quality of their work is the

group's ability to sustain lasting relationships with major clients

which is founded on a history of sound performance and creates the

opportunity for further work.

One way they are trying to improve their systems is by encouraging the

staff who use them day to day, and therefore are familiar with any

difficulties, to come forward with their ideas.

Mr Westwood has told them that they have the power to effect change

within their own company by suggesting improvements and he will provide

the means of presenting their ideas to the board of directors.