Excellent University Dining

The Quality Management System has been successfully introduced: The dining halls and cafeterias of Studierendenwerk Aachen gained a TÜV Certification in accordance with ISO 9001.

The certification by TÜV Rheinland is an internationally recognized quality seal controlling the preparation and provision of food for students, university-related customers and childcare centers. It proves that the Quality Management (QM) gets continuously improved.

Studierendenwerk Aachen runs eight dining halls and six cafeterias in the Aachen and Jülich university areas und it prepares up to two million meals per year. In the dining hall Mensa Academica on Pontwall 6.000 customers are served every day. “The requirements put on large dining facilities have increased enormously, a good Quality Management is essential”, explains the manager of Studierendenwerk Aachen Dirk Reitz. That is why it was decided to introduce a certifiable QM-System for the dining services.

New methods and standards in food preparation were established in the certifying process. With these, Studierendenwerk Aachen strives to increase the transparency of processes, satisfy its customers and reduce error rates. The process also involved the development of cleaning and disinfection standards applying to all dining facilities as well as function definitions for about 130 staff members in the dining services department. “Different departments of Studierendenwerk worked close together “, tells Anne Reuter, the QM representative. “We have worked towards the certification for two years.” It took effort and a lot of stamina. The reward: An excellent audit report.

“Studierendenwerk got a very good result in the first certification ”, says Sonja Kretschmar, head auditor of Quality and Environment Management at TÜV Rheinland. She praises the staff’s cooperation as well as the tidiness and cleanliness in the dining facilities.

The QM project has not ended with the certification. “After the audit means before the audit: The dates for the TÜV supervisions in 2016 are already set”, says Anne Reuter. “Now we must work on the improvements and develop the system on a long-term basis.” The recertification will be in September 2018.

Proud of the certified Quality Management of Studierendenwerk dining services: StW Manager Dirk Reitz, Quality Management Representative Anne Reuter and Sonja Kretschmar of TÜV Rheinland