South Shields firm Solar Serve gets official recognition

From left, Mark Weatherburn, John Lightfoot and Carl Johnson

The company has been successfully certified to the new ISO 9001:2015 standard by ABS Quality Evaluations.

First established in 1987 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it is the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system.

The Juraid tug has 40 Solar Serve window rollers fitted.

Organisations use the standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Solar Solve Chairman John Lightfoot was delighted with the news. He said: “Way back in 1991, when my daughter Julie joined the company, she was given the task of getting the business accredited to the Quality Assurance Standard for design/development, production, installation and servicing).

“It was a tall order and just part of her many responsibilities but working with an advisor, we were successfully certified with BSI in 1993.”

“Solar Solve’s quality officer Mark Weatherburn, internal quality auditor Carl Johnson and all of the Solar Solve Team, who are totally committed to Quality Assurance, have my sincere thanks for the way in which they embrace this very important aspect of the company.

“The board are very proud of them.”

Now based at Tyne Dock East, Solar Solve began life as Northern Window Blind Company trading from a shop unit in Sunderland in 1975.

Today the company’s anti-glare screens are fitted in all types of ships, rigs and cranes across the world, boosting safety marine safety standards.

Solar Solve is a keen supporter of its local community, including sponsoring Harton and Westoe Cobras and Vipers Under-7s football team.

The firm received confirmation of its ISO award after an auditor’s visit to the premises.

Observations included remarks such as “the company management system was found to be very comprehensive and covered all activities on site”, ‘the Quality System continues to demonstrate high integrity and robustness”, “very effective controls observed to be in place, particularly in shop floor/production activities” and “administrative areas were found to be extremely well organised”.