Posted on July 31, 2002 at 2:25 p.m.
BIRMINGHAM, AL — The engineering division of the Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering (CBSE) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has received ISO 9001:2000 certification, an internationally recognized mark of quality management. “We have always been committed to providing high-quality, cost-effective products and services,” says Bryan Ambrose, quality manager for the division. “Certification demonstrates that commitment to our customers.”
Created in 1990 to provide in-house support for the center’s microgravity research program, the engineering division specializes in the development of hardware and software systems used in ground- and space-based research. “Our experiment systems have flown on 43 Space Shuttle missions,” says Mike Harrington, center associate director for engineering. “Support of these systems includes systems engineering, safety and verification documentation/closeout, crew training, launch site support, mission operations and recovery.”
The certification process entails developing and implementing quality processes that meet or exceed standards established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a worldwide federation comprised of 142 national standards institutes. ISO 9001:2000 are the latest revised standards aimed at ensuring customer satisfaction and continuing improvement of processes.
CBSE’s engineering division is certified for the full range of products and services it provides the research community, from technical guidance to installed, fully-operational systems. “We cover all aspects of development of hardware and software systems, from concept to mechanical, electrical and software design, fabrication, assembly, test and operations,” says Harrington.
The division was certified by Smithers Quality Assessments, Inc., of Akron, Ohio, an independent accredited registrar of ISO 9001:2000 certification.
For more information about products and services available through CBSE’s engineering division, visit the center’s Web site at www.cbse.uab.edu or contact Mike Harrington at (205) 975-2687, or Lee Moradi, manager of engineering, at (205) 975-2718.