2006 News & Events

IMR (Independent Manufacturers Representatives)
Training
September 20 - 22, 2006
June 12 - 15, 2006

Watson Bowman Acme, the Expansion Control Company, continued it’s commitment to industry growth and excellence in product training programs at it’s corporate headquarters in Amherst New York for their recent addition of new manufacturers representatives.

The training program included both classroom style training and table top demonstrations with a focus on key products such as Jeene®, Wabo®Crete Membrane, Wabo®FlameGuard II and Wabo®Elastoflex.

 

Over the course of three days both the Parking and Architectural Market Segments were covered in extensive detail. During the week new relationships were established and friendships made particularly during the groups visit and tour of Niagara Falls. This training was WBA’s fourth in recent months. Continue to watch for future training programs and WBA’s upcoming school for Factory Trained Applicators. Interested parties whom wish to attend should contact WBA.


ISO Certification - Update!!!!!!!
May 31 - June 1, 2006
 
 On May 31st and June 1st, WBA underwent a recertification to ISO 9001:2000. We were initially certified in June, 2003 with BVQI Accreditation Services. This certification was valid for 3 years although each year BVQI visited WBA to conduct a partial surveillance audit to ensure we were remaining on track with our continual improvement efforts.
This year was a full recertification audit, with a team of two auditors for two full days reviewing all aspects of our quality management system. We are pleased to report we have been recommended for continued certification. Opportunities for improvement were identified and we will be reviewing these with the ISO Steering Committee Members and taking actions where appropriate. Lastly, many, many strengths and best practices were identified by the auditors. They were impressed with how well we have integrated the ISO philosophy into our daily business practices. This recertification is another strong link in the chain of quality compliance that we have established at WBA. Thank you to all for your continued support of the process.

ISO Certification - 2006 ISO Audit
May 31 - June 1, 2006

ISO 9000
The International Organization of Standardization, (ISO) is a worldwide organization that develops many kinds of Standards. Companies determine key processes, document standardized methods of performing processes, establish a measurement for the process and implement the process. Once all key processes are addressed, an outside registrar is called in to assess the degree to which the system meets the requirements of the particular ISO standard (the audit)

Maintaining the system and continuing to reap benefits throughout the course of registration is an ongoing challenge for companies.

ISO 9001:2000
ISO 9001 documents the requirements an organization must be in compliance with to become ISO 9001 registered. These requirements include management, sales, production and administration. Customer satisfaction, continual improvement and measurement methods are part of the requirements. 

Each year, auditors conduct hundreds of audits of all types of companies to ensure they are meeting the requirements of the standard.  Most companies have between 5-7 minor findings per audit.  We are headed into our 4th audit and (knock wood) have yet to have a finding on our system.  This is an amazing feat and the credit belongs to our steering committee, the work of our internal auditors and the dedication of all our staff who ensure each day that they are meeting the requirements we established in our ISO program. 

2006 Applicator School -
Parking & OAS Certified Applicator Training
April 10 – 13, 2006

Watson Bowman Acme held its annual Wabo®Institute Certified Applicator Training School for Parking and Open Air Structures April 10-13 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This year’s school brought together over 70 participants, including WBA personnel, specialty contractors, waterproofers, engineers, and specifiers.

The training school has been held each year for over a decade. The focus of the school was on understanding special service conditions for expansion joints in parking and open air structures and the types of expansion joints available.

The core product training offered at the Wabo®Institute included the Wabo®Crete Membrane and the Jeene® structural sealing system. In addition, installations of Wabo®ElastoFlex, Wabo®SeismicSpan, and Wabo®Inverseal systems were also demonstrated.

Watson Bowman Acme Certified Applicator Program provides substantial value to the building owner by guaranteeing the quality of the installed products, backed by a joint warranty from the product manufacturer and installer.

Presidents Award
2005 winners announced 

Every year WBA participates in President’s Award Program. This program recognizes each unit’s outstanding performers and corporate citizens as elected by their peers.

This year’s WBA winners are Debbie Steiger and Tom Calos. Debbie and Tom will be flying to Las Vegas to participate in the award festivities with their fellow winners. Both Debbie and Tom have a long track record of committment and solid work ethics. We are proud to send them as this year’s top WBA achievers.

WBA Corp