As far as Quality Management System (QMS) certification is concerned, my first exposure was to ISO 9000: 1994, about seven years after the first ISO 9000 standard emerged from the former BS 5750. The 20 + auditable QMS requirements has resulted in a bewildering and voluminous mass of documentations. It was virtually a system of documents, contrary to a documented system. According to the standard, the company was expected to establish, implement and maintain a documented procedure for all the auditable requirements of the standard. It was a period when the standard was spreading like bush fire, creating a gold mine for Consultants who thrived on the ignorance of the client companies. Preparation and maintenance of the documentation alone, engaged considerable managerial time, and hence the tendency to consider ISO 9000 based QMs as an area separate from the Quality Assurance and other operational functions which has still continued to the present day. This created some dichotomy between the ISO Department and the other functional sections resulting in conflicts. On doing the QMS audits, as an independent auditor for many companies, I have the experience of being confronted with a cart-load of files and documents. This was of course before, the soft copy methodology firmly got established. Many of the External Auditors, spent considerable time, in checking Document and Records, in scrutinizing document reference and revision numbers of even the less significant documents and formats, rather than concentration on the more important requirements. In this respect, I have a great respect for one of the very senior officers of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, whose approach was to study the operational relationships and their effectiveness.

The transition in to ISO 9001:2000 saw some very significant and far-reaching changes, which the industries, took about one to two years to fully realize. It was a challenge for the auditors and the Certification bodies as well. A careful scrutiny of the eight principles of quality management, will show that they are nothing else but common business sense. The eight principles are:

• Customer focus
• Leadership
• Involvement of people
• Process approach
• Systems approach to management
• Continual improvement
• Factual approach to decision making
• Mutually beneficial supplier relations.

 A casual glance at the principles, will reveal that it is about common sense of good managerial practices., irrespective of whether one goes for certification or not. However, it was an uphill task to grapple these concepts and integrate them holistically in to the quality management systems. Process approach in very simple terms means how to relate the inputs to outputs through the value adding conversions and how to control the activities, realize the desired results. It is directly related to the traditional definition of productivity, namely the ratio of out puts to inputs. What was difficult to comprehend was the fact that, the other seven quality management principles also provide inputs for the process approach. As an example, the auditors found it a grey area when it comes to evaluating leadership, in the context of the process approach. Regarding the establishment of the Quality Policy, which in turn is a requirement under leadership, I have seen many quality polices with attractive wordings which more often serve as show pieces. Very few companies have used the quality policy to provide direction for the setting up of quality objectives. One of the meaningful but concise quality policies I have seen is “We do everything, correctly, right first time at all times’’.

While the 2008 version of the ISO 9001 standard consisted of some notional changes only, the 2015 version signified a complete change of the concept of quality stressing the importance of quality in business strategy, by considering the impacts of external and internal factors and the expectations of internal and external parties on quality and including risk management as an important aspect of quality. Although the prime focus on ISO is product or service quality, companies cannot ignore the impact on quality, which covers product quality (Q), Price (P), and Delivery (D). The recent impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on the above aspect of quality, was amply seen throughout the world. The above requirements under the Organization Context, is a move in the right direction, in integrating quality in to all aspects of the business. However, most companies and even auditors, consider this in isolation as another requirement of the ISO 9001, which need minimum compliance. Similar comments can have made on the Identification of the risks and opportunities of the operational processes.

Product and service quality is used by most companies as means of maximizing the profit. The Nobel Prize Winner in Economics, Milton Friedman in 1970, stated that the sole responsibility of a business is to “use its resources to increase its profits. As a result of the rapid growth in consumerism, both locally and globally, business firms operate in a challenging and continually changing business environment. The rapid change is supported by rapidly expanding technology, and particularly of information technology. Dynamic organizations are making serious efforts to keep abreast of developments, in the changing business environment, while many traditional and conservative organizations are failing. Change has become inevitable.”

While we cannot find any fault with this approach, one cannot overlook the Social and Environmental bottom lines, which together with the Economic bottom-line, constitute the Triple Bottom of Sustainable development. The role of quality management on the social and environmental bottom lines, is a concept that has great potential in the modern-day concept. The reduction of scarp and rejects, especially in the tyre industry, will improve the environmental performance, while reducing the health and fire risks, often caused by irresponsible dumping.

 Internal and external communications under the requirement 7.0, Support of the ISO 9001 and 14001:2015 standards are another area where adequate attention has been given. Despite the great advances in ICT, we can trace miscommunications as the root cause of most of the Non- conformance report raised during the QMS audits.

John Ruskin, the English author, (1819 -1900 ) once said, “ Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligence effort.” I have seen this famous quote adorning the walls in some offices of CEOs and Senior Managers. However, the perennially repeating non-conformances related to quality in a large number of companies, make me to wonder whether the management and the mangers, “walk the talk.” Companies have in their procession, a handy tool, in the disguise of ISO 9001:2015, to enable them to establish the standard procedures, (SOPs), operate them and control, but many consider it as something to worry about only during the external audits of the certification bodies.

In this respect, it is worthy of mentioning that, in my country Sri Lanka, there is a famous Buddhist Cultural Pageant, in August every year, that attracts locals as well large numbers of tourists from across the globe. For the past 400+ years, this event follows the SOPs, without any, awareness of the ISO 9000, emphasizing that there is no magic or mystery about ISO, but the prevalence of good common sense. (TT)

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Nokian Tyres has announced that its Hakkapeliitta 01 studded winter tyre is now available for purchase at tyre shops worldwide, roughly six months after unveiling the product. The Hakkapeliitta 01 represents a significant step forward in the brand’s rich history, introducing On-Demand Grip technology that allows studs to enter ‘OFF’ and ‘ON’ modes in response to driving conditions.

The Hakkapeliitta 01 was introduced in March at Nokian Tyres' Ivalo Test Center, situated north of the Arctic Circle in Finland. Dealer pre-sales for the tyre outperformed the company's expectations, a result highlighted in Nokian Tyres' half-year financial report. Designed for passenger cars, crossovers and sport utility vehicles, the new tyre is aimed primarily at the Nordic markets of Finland, Sweden and Norway, alongside United States, Canada and Japan.

The commercial launch coincides with the 90th anniversary of the Hakkapeliitta product family. Nokian Tyres has tested tyres at its Ivalo facility, one of the world's largest company-owned proving grounds and located about 235 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, since 1986. Throughout the winter season, the company is sharing information and content across its sales markets and globally to build awareness of the new tyre. Consumers in the Nordics, North America and Central Europe can purchase Hakkapeliitta models, including the Hakkapeliitta 01, at tyre shops this fall.

Paolo Pompei, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres, said, “We are very pleased about the development of the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 01, which delivered good pre-sales in recent months. Its ability to adapt to changing winter conditions makes it popular with tyre dealers and an excellent choice for consumers who face challenging winter weather.”

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Goodyear has launched a ‘Golden Ticket’ sweepstakes offering one lucky enthusiast and a guest the chance to fly on the iconic Goodyear Blimp. The promotion runs from 15 September through 15 October 2026.

Participants can enter by purchasing a set of four Goodyear tyres through Goodyear.com or at Goodyear Auto Service and Just Tires stores, then submitting the entry form on the dedicated sweepstakes page. A random drawing will determine the winner, who will receive a flight certificate for two passengers.

The certificate can be redeemed at any of Goodyear’s three US airship bases: Akron, Ohio; Carson, California or Pompano Beach, Florida. The sweepstakes arrives as summer ends and weather becomes less predictable, encouraging drivers to prepare their vehicles.

Eligible purchases span Goodyear’s portfolio, including the Eagle F1 All Season, Wrangler Outbound AT, Assurance WeatherReady 2 and ElectricDrive 2. Buyers using Goodyear.com may also select Goodyear Mobile Garage, which dispatches a van and certified technician to install tyres at a chosen location. To enter without making a purchase, persons may submit an entry via the Official Entry Form.

David Cichocki, Managing Director, Americas & Chief Sales Officer at Goodyear, said, "We've been known to say, 'Blimps Are Cool. Buy Tires’, and this sweepstakes brings those two things together in a memorable way. Whether you purchase from the comfort of home through Goodyear.com or visit a Goodyear Auto Service or Just Tires location, you'll be driving on tyres you can brag about and have the chance to experience something truly iconic – a ride on the Goodyear Blimp."

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Continental has broadened its Conti Scandinavia winter tyre lineup with a new 315/60 R 22.5 steering axle tyre. The range is engineered for demanding winter road conditions, delivering dependable traction on snow, ice and wet surfaces while sustaining high mileage and efficient rolling performance. Retread solutions complement the portfolio to support long-term tyre management.

Developed specifically for challenging winter environments, the Conti Scandinavia family covers various axle positions. Optimised tread patterns and winter compounds provide traction and handling on snow-covered, icy and wet roads while meeting the durability demands of regional and long-haul transport. Continental's two-layer sipe technology plays a central role, supporting traction, driving stability and handling throughout the tyre's service life while contributing to mileage and rolling efficiency.

Special tread compounds stay flexible at low temperatures, maintaining grip without sacrificing operational performance. Low noise levels and year-round applicability add further versatility. Hinnerk Kaiser, Head of Bus and Truck Tyre Development at Continental, noted that winter tyres must deliver reliable traction and handling in challenging conditions without compromising mileage or efficiency, and that the Conti Scandinavia portfolio addresses these requirements while the new dimension expands customer choice.

The added 315/60 R 22.5 steering axle tyre strengthens Continental's winter offering for commercial vehicles and widens the portfolio's application range, giving customers greater flexibility in tyre configuration. Alongside new tyres, retreading extends casing utilisation, allowing fleet operators to maximise tyre assets over a longer period while upholding commercial transport performance requirements.

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Michelin unveiled the MICHELIN X Multi T2 at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, presenting the trailer tyre in the widely used UK and Ireland size of 385/65 R22.5. Designed for regional and mixed transport operations, the tyre is engineered to manage heavy loads, resist lateral forces during manoeuvring and remain dependable across fluctuating operating conditions.

Compared with its predecessor, the X Multi T2 delivers as much as 15 percent greater mileage and up to 6 percent reduced rolling resistance. Its development centres on carcass stability and robustness, making it suited to demanding trailer duties spanning general cargo, containers, refrigerated goods, tankers and bulk haulage, along with car, specialised and heavy-haul transport. Such operations frequently involve peak loads, tight manoeuvring and inconsistent road surfaces, all of which affect tyre life, so a durable carcass and damage-resistant tread directly support cost-effectiveness.

Four principal innovations underpin the tyre. REGENION technology continuously forms new grooves as the tread wears, preserving grip and mobility throughout service life. The CARBION compound enhances mileage, rolling resistance and wear resistance. Within the structure, OPTICOIL is a weight-saving bead architecture, while DURACOIL strengthens the tyre-to-rim bond for greater stability. Michelin also employs POWERCOIL, a newer generation of lighter, longer-lasting steel cables.

As a multi-life product, the X Multi T2 can be regrooved and retreaded for notable total cost of ownership (TCO) savings. Regrooving takes place once tread depth reaches 3–4 mm, extending casing life in its most fuel-efficient state. Worn regrooved tyres can then be retreaded as Michelin Remix tyres at the company's Stoke factory, a process adding roughly 20 kg of raw materials versus about 70 kg for a new tyre. Retreads follow the local-to-local principle, being used exclusively within UK and Ireland, supporting skilled domestic jobs and avoiding export-related environmental impact. The tyre carries rolling resistance class B, wet grip class C and external noise class A under EU labelling, plus 3PMSF and M+S winter markings.

Andrew French, B2B Sales Director, Michelin UK & Ireland, said, “Alongside durability and versatility, Michelin recognises the growing pressure hauliers face to reduce rolling resistance, as trailers form an integral part of the total cost of ownership (TCO) equation. This is something our latest generation trailer tyre can help operators to achieve.”

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