Southwest Microwave’s Commitment to Quality: Unique in the Industry

In the world of perimeter protection, there is no margin for error. Southwest Microwave understands this concept—and it shows. The company’s perimeter security products represent the pinnacle of quality and reliability, ensuring superior protection of critical facilities worldwide.

Quality consciousness at Southwest Microwave has a longstanding history. The company’s products have been certified for use over the years by government laboratories and regulatory agencies worldwide. Also, as an ISO 9001:2000 (International Standards Organization) certified company, Southwest Microwave continually strives to improve quality assurance processes throughout the organization.

What is behind the company’s unyielding commitment to excellence? It’s a focus not simply on meeting customer expectations, but on exceeding them. “It is extremely important that we understand what the customer wants, then strive to deliver even more than the customer expects,” says Terri Bartoletti, Quality Assurance Manager for Southwest Microwave. “We then elicit regular feedback to make sure they’re happy or to determine if we need to make changes.”

This focus on the customer has resulted in the implementation of rigorous quality control procedures for each of Southwest Microwave’s intrusion detection products. Incoming inspection is performed on all outsourced components and subassemblies before they are introduced into stock. Every product built is then stringently tested and inspected in an effort to assure the ultimate in performance and durability.

“Our microwave sensors are tested for performance, with our highest security (High Rel) units undergoing extensive temperature testing and burn-in times,” says Bartoletti. “Our transceivers are 100% walk tested. Our INTREPID™ products are 100% tested at board level, system level and then again upon final assembly.”

When all phases of testing have been completed, products come in for final inspection. “We do 100 percent inspection on 100 percent of our products,” says Bartoletti. “Because of our diligence at each step of the production process, the company rarely finds product defects.”

“We have set the bar at a 99 percent acceptance rate, and both our INTREPID and Microwave sensor products exceed that consistently,” Bartoletti says. In fact, there have been several months when absolutely zero defects have been found on system boards—something the company is very proud of.

The quality assurance process doesn’t stop there. To ensure that products are utilized to their full potential and that they maintain optimal performance over the years, Southwest Microwave conducts extensive training programs for integrators/installers and end-users.

In addition, the company stays in close contact with their customers throughout the life of their systems.  Surveys and phone interviews have been introduced to get ongoing feedback on Southwest Microwave products and services. “It has been really good to talk to our customers and get a feel for what they want,” says Bartoletti. “We are pleased to find that our customers rarely have any complaints, and to know that if an issue does arise, that we are handling it with immediacy.”

High quality makes for better protection of perimeters, assets and lives. By upholding the highest quality standards, Southwest Microwave has gained a solid reputation for delivering the most robust and reliable perimeter security systems in the industry for more than 30 years.