Top 6 Tips: Choosing a Consultant

You know you need to implement a management system be it ISO 9001 for quality, ISO 14001 for the environment, AS 4801 for safety, ISO 50001 for energy, or a combination of these. You’ve decided that it’s too hard/time consuming/risky to do it yourself. You need a consultant. They have to be experienced, highly effective and hold a successful track record. It’s an important decision, one you can’t afford to get wrong. You need someone who’ll ensure project success. Someone [...]

Quality Policies: 5 Things You Must Know

Yes, I can hear you groaning already. Quality policies, motherhood statements, stick them on the wall and forget about them. Correct? You may feel that way, but the standard for ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems clearly states that you must have a quality policy. It does not so clearly states what should be in it. This is what the standard says: 5 Management Responsibility 5.3 Quality Policy Top management shall ensure that the quality policy: a) is appropriate to the [...]

Is Certification Worth It?

Is Certification Worth It? “To be or not to be that is the question” although I don’t think Hamlet had certification in mind when he said this. It is a decision to be taken on business grounds. Here are some of the reasons why organisations choose certification: By setting a clear goal, certification motivates staff and helps to gain their commitment. Certification improves processes and refines activities. There is nothing like certification for focusing one’s attention on this key requirement. [...]

Simple Rules on Purchasing – Part II

Following on from my last blog, here is some more common sense on purchasing from the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems standard which says - 7 Product Realization 7.4 Purchasing 7.4.2 Purchasing Information Purchasing information shall describe the product to be purchased, including, where appropriate: a) requirements for approval of product, procedures, processes and equipment, b) requirements for qualification of personnel, and c) quality management system requirements. The organization shall ensure the adequacy of specified purchase requirements prior to their [...]

Simple Rules on Purchasing

Simple Rules on Purchasing – Part I  When it comes to purchasing goods and services for your business the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems standard is full of good common sense. Here is what it says – 7 Product Realisation 7.4 Purchasing 7.4.1 Purchasing Process The organization shall ensure that purchased product conforms to specified purchase requirements. The type and extent of control applied to the supplier and the purchased product shall be dependent upon the effect of the purchased [...]

An Insider’s Guide to Design – Part II

Following on from my last blog, here is what you need to do to meet the requirements of the second section on design for which the standard says – 7 Product Realization 7.3 Design and Development 7.3.2 Design and Development Inputs Inputs relating to product requirements shall be determined and records maintained (see 4.2.4). These inputs shall include: a) functional and performance requirements, b) applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, c) where applicable, information derived from previous similar designs, and d) [...]

An Insider’s Guide to Design – Part I

Why oh why does the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems standard make the clause for designing products so complicated. Sure, good design prevents problems for both the company producing the product and the customer buying them but, there are other important business considerations in the standard such as continuous improvement and management commitment. So why design gets pages in the standard when other requirements get a line or two is beyond me. Anyhow, my rant is over. Here is what [...]

What on Earth is Preventive Action?

If the preventive action clause in the management standards confuses you, join the club! Most people find this one confusing – “I record the problems (non conformances) AND I fix them (short term corrective actions) AND I address the root causes of problems (long term corrective actions). What more do they want?” All three of the most popular management systems - ISO 9001 Quality, AS4801 OHS, and ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems have a preventive action clause. Here is the [...]

Keep it Simple

The following information is so important that it is one of my downloadable Top 5 Essential Tips for ISO systems. Why is it so important? Because a) your management system must be simple and practical or your staff won't use it; b) cumbersome systems don't help a business achieve its goals; and c) overcomplicated systems are expensive to maintain. You need a simple system that effectively helps run the business & meet the needs of both customers & stakeholders. Just [...]

What are Corrective Actions?

I ended my previous blog by stating that there is a relationship between non-conformances (problems) and corrective actions (solutions). Clearly action is necessary to fix a problem and this action can take 2 forms – immediate corrective action and root cause corrective action. The names really say it all. You need to take immediate action to prevent the material or service from being used and to fix it. You need to take root cause corrective action to prevent a recurrence [...]