PlayCore’s Southern Fulfillment Center (SFC), located in Fort Payne, AL, recently received the President’s Award for Commitment from SRI Quality System Registrar (SRI). The facility received the recognition for continuously maintaining International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification for the last 20 years. The 400,000 square-foot manufacturing facility holds ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certifications, internationally recognized standards for continuous improvement in product quality and environmental management systems respectively. The SFC learned of the award during their recent three day audit, where the facility was reviewed and evaluated for conformity to the new 9001:2015 Quality Management Standard. PlayCore’s Southern Fulfillment Center is believed to be the first location in the industry to meet this new standard.
“A company’s Quality Management System certification provides evidence to customers, suppliers, employees, and the public of a company’s commitment to producing a quality product and providing customer satisfaction,” said SRI president Christopher Lake. “PlayCore’s Southern Fulfillment Center and its employees are among the distinguished few that have set the highest standards and excelled for more than two decades.”
SRI verifies that ISO standards are met through rigorous annual audits of the management systems of conforming facilities. SRI meets with employees and examines the company’s procedures, records of internal audits, and management reviews. The process verifies the effectiveness of the Quality Management System, confirms that employees are well-trained on the operating procedures, and identifies any improvements to the system.
“Maintaining our ISO certifications ensures we meet our commitments to quality products and services,” said Spencer Cheak, Senior Vice President and General Manager of GameTime. “SRI has been a great partner, and the annual audit process has helped us build a culture and framework to continue to adapt and improve.”
PlayCore’s Southern Fulfillment Center is one of the nation’s largest single-site manufacturing facilities in the commercial playground industry. More than 300 employees design, build, and ship playground and outdoor fitness equipment to schools, parks, and youth organizations around the globe.
