QMS Archives | GrowEQ: ISO systems, Process Improvement & Management

Would the Trump Administration Pass an ISO 9001 Audit?

If asked the question “should Donald Trump be certified?” I think many people would answer with an unqualified “YES!” But what about a slightly different question: “Would the Trump Administration pass an audit to be certified to ISO 9001?” Let’s have a look at that question from an auditor’s perspective, and see if we can give an educated answer… Clause 5 Leadership Clause 5 of the ISO 9001 standard calls for “leadership and commitment...by taking accountability…ensuring resources are available…and supporting [...]

Good Audits Support Good Managers

Don't cringe when you hear the word 'audit'. Make the most of it. Good managers use audits to add value to their business, by identifying key areas for improvement, driving and measuring better processes, reducing risk and strengthening internal controls.

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

Quality Manual Secrets Revealed

When I audit ISO management systems - be they ISO 9001 for Quality, ISO 14001 for the Environment, ISO 18001 or AS/NZS 4801 for work, health and safety, or ISO 22000 for food safety - I see soooooo many Quality Manuals that are 20, 30, 40 Pages long. There is a better way. The ISO 9001 Quality Management System Requirements Standard states: 4.2.2 Quality manual The organisation has established & will maintain a quality manual that includes: a. the scope of the quality management system, including [...]

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