Setting the Standard: Permagard’s ISO 9001 Certification
For the past 15 years, Permagard has been an ISO 9001 certified company that has set the standard for superior paint protection products in the aviation, automotive, and marine industries. In 2009, when Permagard was still based in Mougins, France, our CEO & Founder Luc d’Argencé decided to implement a quality management system in order to guarantee that Permagard can deliver the best quality products in a timely manner. The ISO 9001 standard for a quality management system was best suited for Permagard’s rigorous work ethic as Permagard would be audited several times per year by our own auditor and by the Bureau Veritas, an independent auditing and inspection company. In order to achieve this complex task, Luc worked with Gérard Moutardier relentlessly until the quality management system came to life. Our quality management system is still overseen by Gérard and Luc to this day to ensure that Permagard always produces high-quality products, that are made in the USA, with zero defects. Today, our company is still audited by Bureau Veritas every year to keep our ISO 9001 certification in good standing.
The Role of Gérard Moutardier in Quality Management
Gérard Moutardier is highly competent in running this monumental task as, before coming to work for Permagard, Gérard oversaw the quality management system for Dassault Aviation, one of the most prestigious aircraft manufacturers in the world in France. After graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Gérard started as a Quality Manager in the field of raw materials that were used by companies for building non-metallic and metallic structures. He engaged in discussion with various suppliers, oversaw incoming inspections, and provided technical assistance to nine separate manufacturing plants. During this time, Gérard began to move naturally towards Quality Systems Management and spent a large portion of his time auditing the various suppliers for Dassault Aviation. He was also involved in auditing these companies’ partners and sub-contractors around the world. All of these quality management systems were audited according to the ISO 9001 standard.
Gérard is an industry-leading expert in numerous important aspects of Quality Systems Management, such as full knowledge on the international standards of the ISO 9000 series, Lean Six Sigma, root cause analysis, statistical analysis, and internal and external audits. Gérard was eventually recognized as an ISO 9001 expert by Bureau Veritas and became in charge of the official certification for the entire company, spanning over 9 locations in France and 3 locations in the USA, with over 12,000 employees total.
Why ISO 9001 Matters for Paint Protection
ISO 9001 is an international standard that establishes criteria for quality management systems. ISO 9001 helps companies improve performance, meet customer expectations, and demonstrate their commitment to quality. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) first published ISO 9001 in 1987. It is the most widely used Quality Management System (QMS) standard in the world with over a million certificates issued to companies situated in over 178 countries. These companies around the world use this standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. These strict standards set the table for companies to endure long-term sustainability and success while consolidating quality control to one central system. This is why ISO 9001 is so imperative for Permagard.
Without ISO 9001, Permagard would not have the approvals we have today in the aviation industry, such as Dassault Aviation, Gulfstream, Embraer, Textron Aviation, and most recently, an industry-wide NTO (No Technical Objection) from Bombardier. Permagard is also the preferred paint protection option for all Cirrus aircraft as ceramic coatings are not compatible with composite aircraft structure. Aircraft manufacturers are all about safety and quality control. This is why no ceramic coatings have been approved by an aircraft manufacturer. Ceramic coatings cannot safely protect an aircraft’s delicate structure due to its genetic makeup and the quality controls of these products have always been very poor. Permagard Aviation prides itself on being a high-quality, aviation-grade product that aircraft manufacturers can trust because of our ISO 9001 certification.
Choose Permagard for Superior Quality and Protection
When you’re protecting something as valuable as painted surfaces, whether it’s on an aircraft, supercar, or yacht, you want to make sure you’re using a product that was manufactured with the highest standards possible. Afterall, paint protects the structure of your asset from dangerous factors, such as corrosion. That is why Permagard, an ISO 9001 certified product for over 15 years, is vital for your paint protection needs.
If you would like to learn more about Permagard’s ISO 9001 Quality Management System and why it is so important for providing you with high-quality products, give our Permagard Headquarters a call today at (305) 662-5070 for more information.
