Poclain earns HITACHI's highest audit grade in Žiri
Following an on-site audit conducted by HITACHI Kenki Camino, Poclain was assessed on its manufacturing processes, quality management practices, production controls, documentation discipline and overall operational capability in Slovenia. The site achieved the program's top rating, confirming the robustness of its industrial organization and its ability to support demanding global equipment programs.
A recognition of manufacturing discipline
For manufacturers operating in sectors where reliability and machine uptime are critical, quality is not only about the final product but also about the consistency of the entire manufacturing process.
The HITACHI Kenki Camino audit evaluated the foundations that make quality repeatable: process control, traceability, documentation, production standards and execution discipline.
« This certification confirms that Poclain's standards are recognized through a structured and demanding audit process conducted by a world-class customer, widely recognized as among the most rigorous in the world. » Says Yoshihiro SHIMADA, Sales Engineer.
Industrial excellence translates into very concrete benefits for our customers. A certified and highly controlled manufacturing environment helps reduce risks, improve process repeatability and strengthen supply chain reliability. It also demonstrates our ability to support demanding international programs while maintaining consistent quality standards over time.
This certification is both a recognition and a responsibility
For Petr Sobola, Plant Manager of Poclain Žiri, the certification is not only recognition of past achievements, but also validation of the site's industrial maturity. "This certification is both a recognition and a responsibility. It recognizes the outstanding work of our teams and confirms that Žiri operates at a level expected by one of the most demanding customers in the world. At the same time, it is a starting point for the next stage of our journey : continuously improving, challenging ourselves, and building future business opportunities on this success."
Poclain's valve competence center
Valves produced and designed in Žiri are used in some of the most demanding mobile machinery applications where safety, performance and reliability are essential.
The audit focused specifically on our FD-M2 traction lock flow divider, part of Poclain's Motion Control Valves portfolio. These valves play a fundamental role in machine behavior. Positioned between the hydraulic pump and the actuator, they manage and distribute hydraulic power, directly influencing safety, motion control, efficiency and operator performance.
The FD-M2 traction lock flow divider is designed to prevent wheel skidding and maintain vehicle traction under challenging operating conditions. By ensuring balanced flow distribution while minimizing pressure losses, it contributes both to machine productivity and energy efficiency.
Manufacturing excellence behind every valve
For customers operating construction, agricultural or industrial equipment, even minor variations can have an impact on machine performance and reliability. This is why manufacturing excellence at Žiri combines advanced production capabilities, robust quality systems and a strong focus on on-time delivery performance.
" This audit evaluated how we manage quality every day: process control, traceability, documentation, manufacturing discipline and continuous improvement. Receiving the highest grade confirms the robustness of our products, but also of the entire system behind them." Says Marko JELOVČAN, quality manager.
Receiving an A-grade certification is not considered an endpoint at Žiri. The plant's teams view the audit results as both a recognition and an opportunity to progress further. The kaizen recommendations shared by HITACHI Kenki Camino are fully aligned with this philosophy, providing additional opportunities to strengthen processes and continue raising standards.
For existing and future customers alike, Poclain combines proven manufacturing expertise, robust quality management and a continuous improvement culture to deliver reliable solutions and long-term partnership value. " When one of the world's most demanding Japanese manufacturers validates our performance, it strengthens our confidence to pursue new opportunities, expand our partnerships and position Žiri as a world-class manufacturing site. It confirms that we are not only capable of meeting high expectations, but also ready to grow beyond them," concludes Petr Sobola.
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