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Challenge
As a leading U.S. manufacturer of abrasive power tools and surface finishing solutions, Dynabrade has built its reputation on precision, reliability, and innovation.
Committed to maintaining compliance with ISO 9001 (2015) and broader manufacturing best practices, the company's Quality team is responsible for implementing and managing the enterprise eQMS. They oversee modules that span both Quality and Safety operations to ensure consistent standards, improved efficiency, and greater transparency across the organizations.
Before Trackmedium, Quality operations relied heavily on PDF forms, spreadsheets, and email chains. Notifications were constant and unfocused, and tracking actions required manual weekly Excel logs. "We were busy," recalls Cole Butzek, Quality Engineering Manager, "and never had enough people to do all that work." The goal was clear: replace fragmented tools with a connected eQMS that would make quality management easier, not more complex.
Cole Butzek, Quality Engineering Manager, Dynabrade:
About
Dynabrade is a global manufacturer of high-quality abrasive power tools, dust-collection systems, and surface-finishing solutions. Founded in 1969 in Buffalo, New York, Dynabrade has built a long-standing reputation for engineering durable, precision-built tools used across manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, metal fabrication, and industrial production environments.
With a strong focus on innovation, safety, and continuous improvement, Dynabrade provides a full ecosystem of pneumatic tools, electrical tools, accessories, and machinery designed to increase productivity and ensure high-quality surface finishing. The company combines U.S. manufacturing with a worldwide distribution network, offering technical expertise, training, and customer-driven product development.
Employees:
~300
Industry:
Industrial Tools & Surface Finishing Equipment
Industry Affiliations and Standards:
ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Strong emphasis on global manufacturing compliance and safety standards.
Location:
HQ New York, USA
Solution
Dynabrade partnered with Trackmedium eQMS to digitize and streamline its Quality and Safety operations. In their first year, the team has rolled out Nonconformance Management (NCM), Deviation, Meetings Management, Supplier & Materials data integration, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), CAPA, and Tasks. Dynabrade is now collaborating with Trackmedium on a custom-built First Article Inspection (FAI) module. They are also partnering alongside another customer to optimize the Asset & Calibration module that is a strong reflection of Trackmedium's 'Customer Voice' approach.
Looking ahead, Dynabrade plans to expand into Document Control, Internal Audits and Customer Communication, giving them plenty of room to continue scaling their eQMS footprint.
Dynabrade adopted a very smart, measured strategy: implementing one to two modules at a time to ensure high adoption, familiarity, and continuous improvement across the organization:
Modules deployed:
Looking ahead, Dynabrade plans to expand into Document Control, Internal Audits and Customer Communication, giving them plenty of room to continue scaling their eQMS footprint.
Dynabrade adopted a very smart, measured strategy: implementing one to two modules at a time to ensure high adoption, familiarity, and continuous improvement across the organization:
- NCR and Deviation were deployed first, working hand-in-hand.
- Meetings Management was next and Trackmedium was open to optimize the module based on Dynabrade's feedback.
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and Supplier & Materials data were integrated, pulling from ERP sources.
- Corrective Action Management followed, providing structure and traceability for investigations.
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Tasks were then added to replace Microsoft Planner and scattered email follow-ups, giving the team one central place to track action items.
The "My Assignments" view on the home screen now shows exactly what each person needs to do, eliminating the weekly Excel log previously used to chase open items. This gives each user a single source of truth for what's pending.
This practical, user-led rollout quickly proved successful:
Results
Simpler, Smarter Workflows:
The Nonconformance and Deviation modules dramatically reduced manual effort. Inspectors now spend less time navigating email threads and paperwork, and more time addressing real issues:
"It feels like a win-win - enhancing the out-of-box product and tailoring it to our processes."
The approach allowed the team to refine each process as they went, adding clarifying notes, field explanations, and small optimizations that made the system intuitive for users across departments.
Meetings That Drive Action:
The module anchors Management Reviews and other critical discussions, ensuring every meeting ends with clear ownership and follow-through. As a result, action items now see 100% follow-through.
"Meetings Management is a great module: agendas, notes, minutes - all in one place. It helped us focus meetings and define actions."
Single Source of Truth:
With all tasks, records, and actions in one place, Trackmedium replaced scattered planners and email logs:
"We used to keep a weekly Excel log of open NCMRs because items got lost in inboxes. We don't need that anymore, as the module shows all active records and states."
Now, each user's homepage shows "My Assignments:" creating clarity and accountability across teams.
Adoption & Culture:
Change management was approached collaboratively.
"Everyone in the Quality department jumped on and loved it. Getting Purchasing and Engineering on board was the next step, and giving them some agency really helped. If something was a pain, we changed it. Nobody had to live with it."
The result was stronger engagement and a shift in perception. Quality became seen not just as compliance enforcers, but as business partners helping to simplify work.
Partnership and Support:
The collaboration extended beyond configuration; Dynabrade's share of voice as a customer directly influenced product enhancements e.g., Asset Calibration & Maintenance.
"Support has been phenomenal. Tickets are followed through in a day. That level of support really stands out."
Vendor Selection:
Dynabrade's decision came after a thorough evaluation. For a team implementing its first eQMS, Trackmedium's clarity and accessibility were decisive.
- Cole Butzek, Quality Engineering Manager, Dynabrade
Looking Ahead:
With a solid foundation in place, Dynabrade plans to expand into Document Control, Internal Audits, Customer Communication and the next generation Asset Calibration & Maintenance Modules to continue its journey toward a fully integrated, paperless quality environment.
"We really value how seamlessly everything connects - from CAPA to NCMRs, materials, and beyond. It's all linked together in one system, giving us a true single source of truth."
Conclusion
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Reduced notification noise leading to nearly 100% action and eliminated unnecessary manual follow-ups.
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Centralized task management, action tracking, and accountability in one place.
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Strengthened collaboration between Quality, Safety, Engineering, Purchasing, and other teams.
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Co-developed product enhancements that benefit both Dynabrade and the wider Trackmedium user community.
By digitizing and connecting its Quality and Safety processes with Trackmedium, Dynabrade has:
The result is a more connected, efficient, and proactive approach to Quality and Safety. This gives Dynabrade the visibility and control needed to keep operations running smoothly and compliantly with less paperwork, clearer accountability, and time to focus on improvement.
