Quality
Customers & employees : the basis of success for the Novatech Group
The origins of the Novatech difference begin with the management of the company. Management is purposefully committed to the development of an organizational culture that will achieve two big objectives: development of products that exceed customer expectations, and operational efficiency. The achievement of these two main strategic objectives is possible because of the genuine commitment of management who endorse the loyalty and motivation of employees as well as customer satisfaction.
Quality history
In its desire to operate in a work environment committed to meticulousness and continuity, Novatech initiated a quality program in 1995, and in December 1997, the company received ISO 9002 certification. Novatech’s goal then became to establish a long term plan of action upon which other continuous improvement goals could be based, such as the continuous improvement program “Lean commercialization” the 5S program, Kaizen, Poka Yoke, kanban and SMED. These other programs were rapidly adopted by the company. The Vernova and Sundor division followed suit in 1999. More recently, Novatech, Vernova and Sundor received the ISO 9001:2000 certification. It is important to underline that the Novatech Group is one of the first companies in its industry to have received this certification. The company’s global continuous improvement program (SAGE) also contributes to the increased quality of products and services at Novatech. This program reviews internal processes while keeping in mind the goals of creating value, eliminating waste and emphasizing customer service both internally and externally.
Novatech’s performance with regards to its efficiency at managing the ISO 9001:2000 standards is very high. No major issue of non-compliance has been found by external auditors since Novatech has received its ISO certification.
Standards & Regulations
When a product is brought to market, Novatech ensures that it meets several standards and regulations as summarized in the following table. The C-TPAT program facilitates exports to the United States. Several of the standards that Novatech abides by are voluntary programs.
| Standards | Objective |
| IGMAC | Durability of products |
| Energy star | Energy efficiency |
| Energy star USA | Energy efficiency |
| NFRC | Energy efficiency |
| CEN (European Commitee for Standardization) | Longevity, safety (impact tests), energy efficiency of insulated glass units used in construction |
| Canadian standards association A440 :2000* | Canadian door and window standard covering air and water Infiltration, forced entry, structural resistance, ease of operation |
| UL (Underwriters laboratories) | Fire safety |
| C-TPAT | A voluntary government business initiative that is a partnership program between companies and U.S. Customs & Border security |
Innovation
A long list of successes
Innov
The Novatech Group has innovation in its blood! Novatech has attained several firsts in the industry: a new Design Collection of steel entrance doors that set themselves apart with their contemporary style and clean lines, the first maintenance-free doorglass frame, a patio door with internal mini-blinds between the two glass panes (again maintenance-free) and the revolutionary Elevation venting unit, which is ergonomic and opens using one finger only, aided by a balancing system.
At the Novatech Group, innovation is much more than a commitment-it is inevitable! The objective is clear for the directors of the Novatech Group: Being the Canadian leader in the doorglass and entry door market by focusing on innovation, value to the customer, product quality and sustainable development.
Innovation center
Since its beginning, the Novatech Group has tirelessly strived to bring tomorrow’s solutions to market today. This is possible because of a commitment on the part of management to a continuous review of both the company’s and the employees’ processes which allow it to continuously improve on the way things are done today. One way the Novatech Group is working towards this commitment is in the creation of an innovation center where the engineering and marketing teams are working together in order to encourage synergies. This results in the development of tomorrow’s products today.
