Matador Wipers: How ISO 9001 and Quality Assurance Benefit public service vehicle users

For bus and coach operators, component safety and reliability play a crucial role in ensuring passengers reach their destinations comfortably and on time, regardless of weather conditions. One seemingly small but essential component contributing to this are windscreen wipers. Matador wipers, backed by ISO 9001 certification and a strong commitment to quality assurance, offer significant advantages to PSV manufacturers and those maintaining the vehicles throughout their service life.

ISO 9001: The Cornerstone of Quality Management

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised standard for quality management systems. Matador’s certification to this standard, which they have held since 2008, demonstrates their dedication to consistently meeting customer requirements and regulatory obligations. This translates into several key benefits for clients.

• Consistent Performance: ISO 9001 mandates well-defined processes for design, production, and delivery. This ensures that each item leaving the factory meets stringent quality criteria, resulting in predictable and reliable performance.
• Reduced Downtime: Wipers that fail unexpectedly can lead to service disruptions and costly repairs. Matador’s focus on quality minimises such occurrences, keeping vehicles on the road and passengers happy.
• Continuous Improvement: ISO 9001 encourages a culture of ongoing improvement. Matador constantly analyses production and service to refine their products and processes, ensuring they remain at the forefront of wiper technology.

Quality Assurance: Beyond the Certification

While ISO 9001 provides a solid foundation, Matador is committed to specific quality assurance measures.

• Taking responsibility for all aspects of our supply chain, working with suppliers to ensure compliance with our quality management system and improving our cost effectiveness and efficiency.
• Managing and continually improving the quality management system systematically, in every part of our business, assigning clear management responsibility for compliance and improvement.
• Ensuring that Quality Objectives are set at all levels of the organisation and adequate resources are provided in order to achieve them.

ISO 9001 and meticulous quality assurance yields tangible benefits for vehicle manufacturers and maintenance teams.

• Prioritising Safety: Clear visibility is the cornerstone of safe driving, especially in challenging weather conditions. Matador wipers give drivers an unobstructed view, mitigating the risk of accidents and ensuring the well-being of passengers and other road users.
• Elevating Passenger Comfort: Passengers value a smooth and enjoyable journey. Reliable wipers contribute significantly to this by eliminating visual distractions and maintaining a clear, panoramic view of the surroundings.
• Optimising Costs: Matador wipers offer a high return on investment. Their exceptional longevity and reduced maintenance requirements lead to substantial long-term cost savings, making them a prudent choice for budget-conscious specifiers.

At the Matador Company quality is at the heart of our business. As manufacturers of windscreen wiper and washer systems specified by some of the leading vehicle manufacturers, we embrace the challenge of keeping pace with the advances in material and manufacturing demanded by our clients. This has made us a highly respected, quality OEM source for bus and coach manufacturers as well as in other equally critical sectors like rail and construction. With over 40 years’ experience in the wiper industry, Matador® can understand our client requirements and bring our expertise to provide tailored solutions to their questions. Visit our website, and get in touch with us to find the answer to your wiper and washer problems.

A technological revolution with uncompromising component quality

Modern passenger service vehicles are a far cry from previous generations. Cutting-edge technologies are enhancing the overall passenger and operator experience, and this is reflected in the innovations that are entering the marketplace as we enter the second quarter of the 21st Century.

1. Electric and Autonomous Powertrains: Electric buses are quieter, more environmentally friendly, and often more efficient than their diesel counterparts. The rise of autonomous driving technology also promises to improve safety and potentially reduce costs.
2. Connected Vehicles and Smart Infrastructure: Buses are becoming increasingly connected to smart infrastructure, allowing for real-time traffic updates, optimized routes, and even predictive maintenance. This improves efficiency and helps ensure that buses arrive on time.
3. Passenger Comfort and Entertainment: Modern buses offer a range of amenities like Wi-Fi, charging ports, comfortable seating, and entertainment systems. These features enhance the passenger experience and make bus travel a more attractive option.
4. Safety Innovations: Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), collision avoidance technology, and improved visibility systems are all contributing to safer bus journeys. Additionally, innovative materials and designs are being used to create stronger, more impact-resistant bus bodies.

The Importance of Component Quality:

Amongst these many innovations it is easy to overlook the critical role played by components that can be taken for granted. Take windscreen wipers, for instance. On the Government’s PSV walkaround check it is no accident that wipers are number 2 on the list of points to check after the glass they protect. In all weather conditions, clear visibility is paramount for the safety of passengers, drivers, and other road users. High-quality wipers that effectively remove rain, snow, and debris are essential. According to Compare the Market, in 2022 there was a19% increase in accidents where a dirty or frosted windscreen was a contributory factor. So, the quality of wipers fitted to a passenger service vehicle is critical.

• Reliability: A bus with faulty wipers on a rainy highway. One of the main reasons for the emphasis on a daily check of vehicle condition is to ensure safety. The potential for accidents due to poor visibility makes reliable wipers that function consistently a must.
• Durability: Wipers need to withstand harsh weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, and UV exposure. Durable materials and construction are essential to ensure that they last and work effectively across their whole lifetime without deterioration.
• Noise Reduction: One of the sounds that many people will recall from journeys on older vehicles is squeaky wipers as they and the washers fail to deal with grease and dirt from the road surface properly. The best modern wipers do away with this, and their improved performance enhances passenger experience of the operators’ vehicles.
• Aerodynamic Design: Modern wipers are designed to reduce wind resistance and noise, improving fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.

The future of bus and coach travel is exciting, with technology driving advancements in every aspect of the industry. However, we must not forget the importance of quality in every component. Windscreen wipers, as a prime example, demonstrate that even the most basic parts can have a significant impact on safety, comfort, and overall performance, and are as much part of the technological innovation as electric powertrains and smart infrastructure.

At the Matador Company quality is at the heart of our business. As manufacturers of windscreen wiper and washer systems specified by some of the leading vehicle manufacturers, we embrace the challenge of keeping pace with the advances in material and manufacturing demanded by our clients. This has made us a highly respected, quality OEM source for bus and coach manufacturers as well as in other equally critical sectors like rail and construction. With over 50 years’ experience in the wiper industry, Matador® can understand our client requirements and bring our expertise to provide tailored solutions to their questions. Visit our website, and get in touch with us to find the answer to your wiper and washer problems.