Maximum security demands maximum precision.

EVVA manages many millions of cylinders and keys as well as several hundred thousand locking systems for companies, public institutions and private individuals. All EVVA products pass through several inspection steps – such as in the in-house test laboratory – before they are released for sale. Since its foundation, EVVA has produced an estimated 110 million security cylinders and considerably more keys. Special techniques are required for these quantities and complex manufacturing processes, which must be accurate to a hundredth of a millimetre.

Top quality and reliability have a major positive impact on our customers and trading partners, which is why "quality" has been identified by stakeholders and EVVA as one of the most important sustainable topics.

Economic impact:

"Quality" features prominently not only in the stakeholder dialogue, but also in the last partner survey 2023. Around 450 trade partners who sell our products worldwide took part. The quality and longevity of EVVA mechanical locking systems was rated as 1.43 (on a 4-point scale), the best result of all companies surveyed. "Quality" was stated by trading partners to be by far the most important evaluation criterion. Nevertheless, we want to improve further – see targets below.

The highest quality is now a prerequisite for a provider of high-quality and highly secure security solutions. If distribution partners sells a defective product to end customers, this also weakens their image and business. The demand for quality must begin with research and development (see Permanent innovation) and – especially with a highly reliable product such as a security cylinder – cover the entire product life cycle. Security is based on trust, and trust is based on quality. "Quality will always have top priority at EVVA. Quality is teamwork and every individual is responsible for this", says EVVA CEO Stefan Ehrlich-Adám. And this is an ongoing, perpetual process, because quality orientation never ends.

Impact on the environment and society:

Durable products
EVVA products have a very long service life, which has a positive effect on the environment. This is due to the high-quality manufacturing processes and high quality standards, which ensure security over decades. EVVA continues to receive many repeat orders from systems that have been in use for half a century and longer (photo: An additional EVVA lock from the 1930s or 1940s, which still serves today in an older building). An EVVA security cylinder is an asset that lasts for generations; you can remove it and continue to use it in your next home. EVVA differs significantly from low-cost suppliers in terms of production, product range and service. The feeling of security that EVVA products provide is based on this high quality standard.

The long service life of our products is a valuable contribution to the circular economy: They are anything but disposable items. In the reporting year, for example, EVVA received a repeat order for a thousand units of an EVVA cylinder system that was produced and installed in the mid-1940s – around 80 years ago.

A word on the subject of repairs: Repairs are very rare because EVVA products are of high quality. In most cases, it would be more cost-effective for EVVA to simply replace than to repair. But that contradicts our position vis-à-vis the throwaway society. We want to avoid waste, especially because mostly only one component is affected and the product can still be used for decades afterwards. This is why EVVA continues to provide a repair service; electronic components, for example, are checked at EVVA's ELREZ (Electronics Repair Center).

EVVA measures to increase quality and prevent errors:

• Error tickets reduced
  EVVA launched a quality campaign to further reduce the number of customer tickets some years ago. As a result of the measures described below, EVVA was able to reduce the number of customer tickets relating to technical questions and problems to less than 1% (see targets).
   
• New overall test concept
  Introduced several years ago, this concept is now standard in all EVVA development projects:
  1) The majority of checks are carried out as part of module or component tests. Here, the smallest units are checked for freedom from defects (e.g. mechanical components or drawings or software modules)
  2) The integration test checks the interaction of several components (e.g. an electronic assembly or drilling protection)
  3) The system test answers the question: "How well does the product work on its own?" (e.g. a mechanical thumbturn cylinder, the software for an electronic locking system, etc.)
  4) The overall system test checks whether the individual products work together smoothly as part of a complete system. E.g. the software with the app and the door components
  5) Finally, the field test takes place also with selected customers

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  "Team 122" –the fire brigade in production
  Team 122 consists of various EVVA professionals. It meets daily and checks current orders: Are there challenges that could jeopardise EVVA’s high quality? It quickly organises any missing parts or personnel resources and prioritises important jobs. Team 122 masters challenging situations to meet the promised delivery deadline

• EPOS (EVVA's optimised production system)
  This EVVA initiative looks at all optimisation projects in production holistically and no longer in isolation as in the past. Lean management tools are used across departments. Such as the 5S principle (create order, sort out..., i.e. that all materials are exactly in the right place) or Kanban (i.e. that all materials are available in the right quantity and at the right time). EPOS teams also come up with their own quality improvement suggestions  
   
• QSP (Quality with Lean Processes)
  The current QSP project analyses EVVA's entire process landscape – from business concepts to machine deployment and market launches. For example, it checks that all processes are clearly defined and have clear interfaces to avoid duplication of effort  
   
• During the reporting period, EVVA implemented numerous digitalisation projects to automate or standardise work steps and thus reduce the susceptibility to errors. For example with AI applications. More about this under Digitalisation



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  Product with a sharp burr
  Burrs can occur during production, i.e. sharp edges or product residue, which not only impair function but can also cause injuries. EVVA has reorganised the maintenance schedules for the relevant machines, checked them more closely and fitted the machines with sensors so that wear parts (such as broaching needles or rotary blades) can be replaced promptly. Disruptions or order rescheduling due to burred parts have practically ceased to occur.

• Coupling errors minimised
  In the reporting period, coupling errors occurred in electronic hardware in isolated cases. EVVA then developed new couplings that have been in use very successfully since 2019
   
• More internal audits
  It is not only external testing institutes that regularly test our quality. EVVA has intensified its own internal audits in recent years, including machine maintenance. In the so-called self-monitoring audit, a company undertakes to keep products continually up to date with the latest technology. Your great advantage: EVVA does not wait until external testers discover an error, which in the worst case can lead to the loss of a certificate, but continually puts itself to the test. The photo shows an employee at the service life testing machine. The standard demands that mechanical cylinders must fulfil at least 100,000 locking cycles (i.e. approximately 400,000 locking operations). Internally, EVVA sets the benchmark much higher, namely at 200,000 cycles.
  
  

  

  In general, EVVA always subjects its self-developed products to an FMEA analysis, the "Failure Mode and Effects Analysis". In this process, possible shortcomings are identified during the development process and evaluated with points according to probability and impact. This can concern the design, the manufacturing processes or the interaction of components. Precautionary measures must be taken from a certain score. EVVA uses the FMEA very comprehensively and in great detail

• To find out more about our external tests and certifications go to Certifications & Awards

User protection tests:

Since EVVA complies with all regulations, our products can be used without hesitation throughout their entire product life cycle (e.g. with regard to electrical safety or batteries). All product labels are correctly applied (e.g. with usage, composition, battery identification, etc.). There has never been a contravention of legislation. Because all products are tested during the development process and in the in-house test laboratory, not only for functionality, durability or long service life, but also for safe application.