What is quality?

Quality relates to 'appropriate use': how well a product does what it is intended to do.

Portakabin's 'Ultima' building illustrates quality well. The Ultima specification includes:

• modern design

• high quality materials

• layout and fitting of the building to clients' requirements

allied to :

• rapid construction

to provide:

• a smart modern working environment

• an image that reflects the status of the client.

The 'appropriate use' quality comes from two sources. One is internal to the company. Portakabin has developed its range of buildings around its own market research, which discovers customers' precise needs. The company knows how important it is to offer optional extras, such as high quality carpeting, fitted furnishings and climate control systems to provide a quality working environment. Simultaneously being able to offer not only the building but also the aforementioned accessories, gives the customer a quality 'one-stop-shop' service.

The other source of quality control is external e.g. national building requirements and standards. Portakabin's products, whether interim or permanent, comply fully with all appropriate building regulations. They also meet the demands of ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems. This is an internationally recognised standard which acts as a form of guarantee that everything the company does is managed to the highest quality standards.

The group's Quality Systems Manager (QSM) is responsible for ensuring that Portakabin has in place systems that guarantee quality throughout the Group. To manage quality, the QSM has created an electronic system that all PCs throughout the whole company can access. One of the system's key features is the 1-page Quality Manual that defines the requirements of the Quality Management System. This is easy to communicate both within the organisation and also to customers.