Massachusetts-based Case Snow Management Inc. wanted standard safety and efficiency processes in place so they chose to become certified on the SN9001 Quality Management System.

As reported here last December, after several years of work by the Accredited Snow Contractors Association and Smithers Quality Assessments, the SN 9001 quality management system standard and certification, which was built upon the foundation of the well-established principles of the ISO 9001 quality management system, became available to the snow and ice management industry.

"SN 9001 was developed with the goal of helping professional snow and ice companies improve their management systems and reduce risk," said Kevin Gilbride, executive director of the ASCA.

Case Snow Management Inc., based in Attleboro Falls, Mass., recently became the first SN 9001 certified company.

Case, which provides plowing, hauling, de-icing and sidewalk clearing services at more than 450 locations throughout the Northeast, began to investigate ISO 9001 several years ago as the management team recognized that processes needed to be in place to ensure everyone at the company had the same goals and training. When they learned there would be a standard applicable to their industry, SN 9001 became their choice for certification.

William Carello, vice president at Case, guided his company through the process starting with a pre-assessment in August. His recommendation to other companies is to start the procedure in the off-season as they did.

"The pre-assessment was very helpful. Gretchen Merriman (director of operations for Smithers Quality Assessments) visited our operations, reviewed our manuals and training program and identified gaps in our system," Carello said. "We took those opportunities for improvements or OFIs and implemented changes in our system. We also learned how to improve the wording so we used ISO terminology. Gretchen shared her industry knowledge and her understanding of the SN 9001 standard and we used that experience to make even more improvements in our system to benefit both our workforce and our customers."

Going through the documentation process, building post-storm inspections and creating the training program for these procedures during the off-season has reportedly helped Case Snow be more efficient this year. Employees know that there's accountability to the program and a yearly assessment that must be passed.

Case Snow has shared its SN 9001 certification with customers.

"There's definitely an education component with customers," explained Carello. "We believe that once our customers and prospects understand what SN 9001 encompasses, it will add value to our relationships and become a sales tool."

According to Gilbride, more than a half-dozen snow and ice management companies have begun the ISO certification process.

Smithers Quality Assessments is accredited by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board, the accreditation body based in the United States.