Commitment to Excellence, Certified

March 11, 2022

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After two years of dedication, diligence and details, SMS Equipment’s Acheson’s remanufacturing Shop is proud to share it is now a Komatsu Certified Reman Centre. As the only shop in Canada with the certification, it’s now part of a global network pooling and sharing information and resources.

In 2019, the executive team explored pursuing certification for Acheson. A logical step, it aligns with SMS Equipment’s value system of pushing for higher standards and symbolizes a continuous commitment towards customer excellence. Plans began to roll out, with the global Komatsu Reman Center Chile (KRCC) collaborating with Acheson to introduce process and procedures to reach the goal.

Rory Mackenzie, an SMS Equipment employee for over 30 years, Continuous Improvement Project Manager and Mark Pattison, equally experienced, is the quality lead. Both key players in the certification success, they see firsthand its impacts and benefits.

The certification is worldwide, found on every continent. All Reman Certified shops’ information is integrated together—giving SMS Equipment the ability to gain and share insights and information on a widespread scale. “We get more diversity and contact points to validate decisions we’re making surrounding maintenance and repair operations,” says Pattison. In other words, multiple viewpoints equal better chances to problem solve. The team can also gain vital information it wouldn’t necessarily get before, because it was either proprietary information or meant to shared only within Komatsu.

“We’ve gone from being a third party to now being right inside the Komatsu organization,” says Pattison. “It’s completely opened up our capability to communicate with other Komatsu Reman departments.

To get here, Mackenzie and Pattison reviewed the documentation, set a plan, and audited their facility to find gaps and weaknesses. KRCC Certification Audit preparation meant introducing a House Keeping & Contamination Control program, installing new signage, floor markings, boosting Wi-Fi, testing the KRCC RESO ERP, and ordering a Komatsu Wheel Motor/Traction Alternator Test Bench.

After passing with flying colours in August, Acheson achieved Level 1 certification and is currently working on Level 2. “I’m sure we’ll complete the last level in 2023,” says Mackenzie.

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