Dytran Instruments, Inc.

Dytran Instruments, Inc., located in Chatsworth, California is a manufacturer with 112 employees. Founded in 1980, they are a leader in manufacturing test & measurement products that are used extensively for aerospace and industrial applications.

Challenge

Dytran recognized that registration to the AS9100 Aerospace Quality Standard was necessary for doing business as some of the key aerospace customers were making it a requirement. Registration provided Dytran potential sales opportunities by becoming a certified calibration lab for the types of sensors and transducers they manufactured. Becoming registered to the AS9100 and ISO 17025 standards would position the company to achieve their growth and expansion goals. In addition, they needed to expand their facilities to increase production.

Solution

In September of 2006, CMTC met with Dytran management to discuss the company’s needs relative to the implementation of a quality management system. Agap assessment was conducted to determine what would be needed to meet stringent aerospace quality management system specifications. Using the results of the assessment as a guideline, a project plan outlined the following tasks: a management planning workshop to develop the strategy for the implementation; structured management review meetings to review project progress; AS9100 overview training; development of a quality manual; implementation and training assistance; and a final on-site internal auditor workshop and management review. Continuing assistance was provided during implementation to ease the workload on Dytran personnel. The ISO 17025 implementation included development of the laboratory scope, an overview of ISO, development of the laboratory policy and objectives, and the laboratory quality manual and process documentation. During this same time period, Dytran expanded their facilities to accommodate their future growth. The project was completed in December 2007.

Improvement Description

Dytran obtained certification on their initial audit. Overall quality awareness was improved and certification to the aerospace standard made Dytran more competitive. Their major investment in enlarging their facilities and their improved processes helped them to quickly utilize the increased space to meet their expansion goals.

Financial and Investment Impact

Following their successful certification, Dytran added 16 employees and increased sales by more than $1 million from 2006 new and existing customers.

"CMTC assisted us so we could add 16 new employees and increase our sales by $1M."

Michael Change
Vice President of Operations

CMTC Logo