

PRYSMIAN GROUP | DIRECTORS’ REPORT
129
QUALITY
Focus on supplier quality and continuous improvement
In pursuing the goal of being the benchmark for excellence in the markets in which it operates, once again in
2015, the Prysmian Group focused on improving its performance, with the clear aim of increasing the
satisfaction level of its customers, as well as of providing an outstanding customer experience.
As part of this strategy and in response to the need to structure and control quality-related activities in a
single environment shared by the entire business, the Group continued to implement proprietary software to
allow the entire organisation to have clear and immediate access to the performance of each entity within the
Group.
The good performance in terms of number of Customer Claims already achieved in 2014 was confirmed in
2015. In addition, new indicators specifically aimed at monitoring response times have enabled the Group to
identify important areas of improvement and raise awareness throughout the organisation about rapid and
effective problem solving.
Particular attention has been given to the continuous improvement of internal processes. Specifically, an
extensive training program has been designed to teach the main methods for correctly analysing and solving
problems related to the quality of both products and processes. In addition, a series of continuous
improvement projects has been launched in every factory, with the aim of taking advantage of further
opportunities to increase the standards of quality and efficiency of internal processes, with clear benefits also
for costs.
Another mainstay of 2015 was the introduction of controls over the performance of the core suppliers. In
addition to the implementation of specific preventive measures, this has improved the relationship of trust
between the different parties, by offering interesting ideas for development. Furthermore, the definition of
specific performance indicators has allowed the Group to have a broader and more complete picture and so
factor in all the implications each supplier's activities have for individual departments in its dealing with such
suppliers.
The Worldwide Quality Meeting, attended by all the Group's Quality Managers, has held at the end of the
year with the purpose of sharing best practices and guidelines for development: the results for the year were
reviewed and the strategy presented, along with the main projects to be implemented in 2016.