Case Study: Ideal Jacobs is a New Jersey-based manufacturing firm specializing in custom labels, short-run plastics, and complex component production. Founded in 1921, the company has evolved from a family-run print brokerage firm into a global manufacturing partner with facilities in the US, Mexico, and Belgium.
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Certifications at a Glance
- ISO 9002 – Quality Management since 1994
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Management since 1999
- IATF 16949 – Automotive Quality Management in progress
- ITAR – International Traffic in Arms Regulations in progress
- Certifying with DQS since the 1990s
Under third-generation CEO Andrew Jacobs, Ideal Jacobs has embraced ISO certifications as more than compliance tools. Andrew’s team uses them as business drivers, strategic differentiators, and entry tickets into new markets. Their ISO systems are a part of their strategic thrust to go after new business.
Executive Overview
How Ideal Jacobs Turns Certification into Competitive Advantage
Ideal Jacobs is not a typical manufacturer. From telecom and medical to automotive, its customers come with projects others can’t solve—often with designs that are nearly unmanufacturable.
To thrive in this niche, Ideal Jacobs has made certifications a cornerstone of their selling strategy. Beginning with ISO 9002 registration in 1994 and later expanding to ISO 14001 in 1999, the company has built a roadmap for entering new verticals through quality systems and forward-looking audits.
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Certifications as a Cornerstone of Sales
“ISO standards empower us to be the first—and hopefully, only—company on the playing field,” said Jacobs.
Ideal Jacobs has worked with DQS and its holding company since the 1990s. Today, it is pursuing additional certifications like IATF 16949 for automotive, ITAR for defense, and later ISO 13485 for medical devices.
The Challenge: Entry Barriers to High-Spec Industries
In 1993, Lucent Technologies gave Ideal Jacobs a choice: get ISO certified or lose their supplier status. That moment triggered a transformation.
“We became one of the first printing brokers in the country to be ISO certified,” Jacobs recalled. “It gave us an edge early on.”
Since then, client expectations have only grown, especially in regulated industries like automotive and defense, where certifications such as IATF 16949 and ITAR are table stakes. For a company that thrives on being the first call when something’s broken—or can’t be made—ISO certifications became a powerful way to signal trust and capability.
“If a customer says, ‘You need this ISO or that,’ we go get it. We won’t let a certification requirement be a roadblock to new business.”
The Solution: ISO as a Platform for Problem-Solving
Unlike manufacturers focused on mass production, Ideal Jacobs targets difficult, short-run, and custom parts across metals and plastics. “There’s not a lot of people in our space. Certifications show we are a trusted partner.”
This differentiation hinges on quality management systems that support rapid problem-solving, fast prototypes and global customer assurance. And for Jacobs, audits are not a hurdle—they’re an asset.
“You cannot fool an auditor, and I want them to find process gaps—because that’s how we find improvements to make.”
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The Impact: Strategic Growth, Real ROI
Each new certification is tied directly to market expansion. IATF 16949 is a gateway to automotive business in Mexico. ITAR registration opens defense opportunities in the US. ISO 13485 is next in line for medical work. And while AS9100 is being evaluated, Jacobs is clear: it must justify the investment.
Prepare your own quality certifications
Ready to embrace ISO certifications as more than compliance tools, like Ideal Jacobs?
“Certifications need to drive revenue for us. We don’t get them just for the plaques.”
This clarity has allowed Ideal Jacobs to prioritize smarter, invest in the right tooling, and stay lean while expanding global operations.
“We’re not that big a company to have as many registrations as we do, which sets us apart from everybody else.” Even internally, the structure has helped build alignment and set up the business for the long term.
“The goal is longevity. I want this company to thrive for another 30–40 years, even after I’m gone.” And for Ideal Jacobs, certifications are a key strategy lever for that long-term growth.
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Author
Nadine Heir
Nadine's team communicates the world-class quality for which DQS is globally recognized, in certification and auditing services, to companies across industries.
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