HKSQ Study Mission– Visit to Marsh Engineering Hangzhou Co. Ltd.

HKSQ has usually arranged a Study Mission in China or Asia annually since 2012 and the first Study Mission is to visit to Beijing in 2003. This time is located in Hangzhou and Shanghai in order to visit local manufacturing companies in different industries and local university. We arrived to the Hangzhou airport on 15 Apr 2014.

The first day of HKSQ Study Mission to Hangzhou and Shanghai was to visit Marsh Engineering Hangzou Corporation Limited (MEH) on 16 Apr 2014. Mr. Jason Ho (Business Solution Architect, MEH) joined us and guide our driver to the company.

Then Mr. David Kang (QA Manager, MEH) and Mr. Victor Cai (Engineering Manager, MEH) introduced MEH background and its QMS and management to us. William Marsh & Company (mother co.) was founded in 2006 in Hong Kong and MEH was established in May 2010. There were more than 130 employees and with 9,996 sq-m site area. MEH had two types of products.
i) Ceramics Fixtures (e.g. Water Closet, Urinal, Vitreous China Lavatory, etc.)
ii) Faucets & Accessories (e.g. Sensor Activated Faucets, Gooseneck Faucets, Wall-mounted Sensor Faucets, Battery Powered Fiber Optic Faucets, etc.)

The process flow was briefed from Incoming Inspection, Store in W/H, Test & Assembly, Packing to Shipping. (Test – 100% Physical Spec Test, Leakage Test, Functional Test)

Mr. David Kang mentioned their Road Map for Quality Improvement included three elements – Standardization, People Development and Execution.
Standardization: QMS included ISO 9001, ISO 17025, IAPMO Audit and UL Certification
People Development: QC & Production Training, Team Leader Training & Whole Plant Training

Execution: Production and IT system

For the Whole Plant Quality Concept Training, it was separated into four level and they were White, Yellow, Green & Black Badge.

Before plant visit, Mr. Michael Wong (CTO, MEH) shared his experience to us. He said MEH invested in R&D and Lab testing. He believed management by number / figure. They had database which was their asset & knowledge to improve Quality. MEH managed 400 suppliers and he said “Quality cannot rely on supplier” and “Quality and Cost need balance”. Moreover, he concluded IT budget should be paid but it should be controlled by CFO.

Then we visited the testing facilities included visual check, vacuum check, etc.

The flowing water duct had 18m long.

In the laboratory, the Ceramics Fixtures needed to overcome 500 pound weight test. And it also needed to test water absorption and retention of ceramic materials which did not excess 0.5% wt.

The warehouse employed both bar code and RFID system. Their special design for raw material was First In Last out (FILO) and for finished product was First In First Out (FIFO).

At the end, we visited the show room.

Before end of the visit, Ms. Minda Chiang (Hon. Secretary, HKSQ) presented flag to Mr. Michael Man (CFO, MEH).

HKSQ Student Mission team’s group photo

Reference:
HKSQ – www.hksq.org
MEH – www.marshcompanies.com
Day 1: HKSQ Study Mission– Visit to Marsh Engineering Hangzhou Co. Ltd. - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2014/04/hksq-study-mission-visit-to-marsh.html
Day 2: HKSQ Study Mission– Visit to Shanghai University - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2014/04/hksq-study-mission-visit-to-shanghai.html
Day3: HKSQ Study Mission– Visit to C&C RFID (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2014/04/hksq-study-mission-visit-to-c-rfid.html