Product Quality and Safety

As a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider, we know that a commitment to product quality and safety is the foundation of our businesses’ success. Meeting the needs and expectations of customers is critical to earning and keeping their trust and protecting the value of our brands.

Product Quality

Our operating companies design and produce innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software, and support services that are used in a broad variety of industrial applications, with a strong emphasis on continual product quality improvement to better serve our customers. Each business is responsible for managing product quality which allows for a tailored approach customized to the unique business environments and quality requirements of our diverse portfolio of operating companies.

Quality at the Source

Across our operating companies, the concept of “quality at the source” is a crucial element of process and workflow from production to delivery. Quality at the source relies on the right raw materials, qualified suppliers, tested and proven processes, and perhaps most importantly, instilling a sense of ownership and responsibility for the teams responsible for each stage of the production workflow.

Specific quality management practices vary depending on our operating companies’ product lines and the unique needs of their customers, but generally product quality management efforts include some or all of the following:

  • Designing quality into new products through a rigorous, cross-functional stage-gate process
  • Following internationally recognized best practice quality management systems like International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001
  • Using, where applicable, third-party product safety, quality, or sustainability certifications such as UL and CSA or industry-specific certifications
  • Auditing of quality management by third-party auditors from ISO and customers as well as our Internal Audit function
  • Phased quality testing of products in the lab followed by controlled field environments
  • Continuously improving the effectiveness of our quality management systems, our processes, and products, to enhance their value

Quality Management Systems

At Dover we implement quality management systems to manage product life cycle processes and procedures. Our diverse operating companies use different frameworks to manage quality specific to the unique needs of their respective industries, but many use the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 Quality Management standard. Sixty-three of our sites are ISO 9001 certified for their quality management systems, covering approximately 58% of Dover employees.


Product Safety

Beyond product quality, we focus on the safe use of our products. As an industrial manufacturer producing machinery and equipment that our customers use every day, we serve our customers better when we help them keep their people and end users safer.

Because of the diverse nature of our businesses, safety practices and needs can vary depending on the operating company and product line, but generally, to improve and support product safety, we:

  • Incorporate safety considerations in the early stages of and throughout the product design process
  • Strive to eliminate hazardous chemicals from relevant products and processes
  • Continuously monitor product performance in the field, track warranty rates, and work to appropriately address potential safety hazards identified as a result
  • Solicit suggestions for safety through regular customer communications to get feedback on how to improve the safety profile of our products
  • Develop innovative safety features to help customers stay safe such as real time leak detection, temperature sensors, automatic shutoffs, and digital solutions for preventative maintenance

Outlined below are a few examples where our businesses have embedded safety into the design of their products and delivered innovative solutions to help improve customers’ operations.


Responsible chemical use: Markem-Imaje

To promote the chemical safety of its printing products, Markem-Imaje established an internal restriction list several years ago. This restriction list helps control and limit the use of chemicals that may pose risks even when they are not subject to lawful restriction. The list also considers customer preferences regarding the use of certain restricted or banned chemicals.

Markem-Imaje works closely with its chemical suppliers in order to ensure EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) obligations are fulfilled. Markem-Imaje also offers:

  • European Union RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) compliant products
  • VOC-free marking solutions
  • Methanol-free consumables
  • MEK (methyl ethyl ketone)-free consumables

Additionally, our Markem-Imaje printing business is known for innovating in pursuit of customers’ product safety and integrates safety features like tamper protection, intelligent coding, track and trace software, permanent marking, coding security, and product authenticity into its products and solutions.


Sensors to inform site owners of potential water ingress and product leaks: DFS

DFS’ various sensors are suitable for all locations on the station and help monitor the quality of the environment, protecting equipment and public life. These sensors detect leaks (e.g., the pressure line leak detector) and the presence of unwanted substances, including certain liquids and vapors (e.g., the hydrocarbon liquid sump sensor). DFS’ sensors are able to automatically disconnect equipment and sound alarms to facilitate immediate solutions.


Using digitally enabled products to improve industry safety: ESG 3rdEye

Environmental Solutions Group’s (ESG) 3rdEye automated vehicle camera technology helps improve industry safety in the solid waste and recycling industries. 3rdEye’s onboard vehicle/truck cameras and collision avoidance radar systems help protect the driver, the community, the vehicle, and the fleet owners of school buses, construction equipment, and garbage trucks by giving drivers added visibility while in motion, capturing telemetry data, and documenting safety events.

Working Together on Industry Safety

Across Dover, our operating companies strive to deliver high-quality, safe products to meet customers’ needs. Environmental Solutions Group (ESG) collaborates with industry partners to drive safety across the solid waste and recycling industries. ESG has been active in the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) safety standards committee for decades, including chairing the mobile equipment committee. In this capacity, ESG leaders collaborate with haulers, municipalities, end users, industry consultants, and manufacturers to develop and continually modernize safety standards to improve industry safety.