There can come a point when your quality system reaches a limit- a human limit. How do you continually improve on near-perfection?
Human Limitations in your ISO9001-2008 quality management system
January 13th, 2012Thanksgiving Day thoughts on ISO9001-2008
November 25th, 2011Yes, even in the dull world of ISO9001-2008 quality management systems, you can find things to be thankful for.
When is it time to change your quality objectives in your ISO9001:2008 quality management system?
November 4th, 2011When is it time to change your quality objectives in your ISO9001:2008 quality management system? How long have you had the same objectives? How much improvement have you experienced? Is it time for new objectives?
Do you have ISO9001-2008? How well are your quality objectives working for you?
August 24th, 2011Recently I performed a complete internal audit for a small manufacturing company that was soon to have their initial ISO9001-2008 registration audit. While going through their documentation, I found they had completely missed the boat on their quality objectives. Their quality objectives were too vague, and not measurable. It might be nice [...]
Compromising your ISO9001-2008 quality management system
July 10th, 2011Any organization with more than 1 person has experienced compromise. Your quality management system is a compromise, whether you want to admit it or not.
Reap benefits of ISO9001-2008 without any cost
June 16th, 2011Here’s how you can reap some benefits of an ISO9001-2008 quality management system without incurring any of the costs.
Do you have an ISO9001-2008 personality?
May 18th, 2011Do you have the right personality to manage an ISO9001-2008 quality management system?
ISO9001-2008: The dirty little secret?
April 28th, 2011Learn about ISO9001-2008’s dirty little secret.
Why ISO9001-2008 internal audits are like pizza
March 31st, 2011Internal audits, as part of an ISO9001-2008 quality management system, can be compared to pizza. Even when it’s not great, it’s still good!
AS9100C scuttlebutt
March 4th, 2011Recently I spoke with a very experienced auditor who also audits the AS9100 standard. I, your faithful writer, worked with AS9100 in the distant past, but haven’t been keeping up with the latest revision.
It seems the new AS9100C is going to cause quite a bit of heartache out in the world. A local [...]
OFI’s, or “opportunities for improvement”, in an ISO9001-2008 quality system.
January 2nd, 2011During an ISO9001-2008 audit, auditors often write up “OFI’s”, or “opportunities for improvement”. Do you need to act on these?
Will you use ISO9001:2008 to help in 2011?
December 21st, 20102011 is almost here. While I believe every year above ground is a good one, 2010 certainly presented many of us with many, many challenges. I’m definitely looking forward to 2011 with hope and optimism.
The economy is crap. Many businesses are suffering. You can sit and sulk and brood and go [...]
Is it possible to get ISO9001-2008 accredited before you start a business?
November 17th, 2010Recently I had a few phone calls, and a brief introductory meeting, with a gentleman who claimed he and his partner were in business making electronic devices. He said a large, well-known company wanted to do business with him, and the potential customer insisted he have his ISO9001-2008 certificate. We talked quite a [...]
ISO9001-2008 Similarities to Government
October 19th, 2010The other day it dawned on me that ISO9001-2008 performs a function similar to governments. How so?
Are you ISO9001-2008 certified? There are 2 kinds of ISO9001 companies. Which one are you?
October 5th, 2010In my opinion there are basically 2 kinds of companies that are registered to ISO9001-2008. Which one are you?
How do you get your people to comply with your ISO9001-2008 quality system?
October 2nd, 2010There’s a company I work with that has been registered to ISO9001-2008 for about a year. They’re a great bunch of people to work with, and I very much look forward to visiting them. They’ve got about 100 employees. This company is extremely concerned with quality, and they put out excellent products. [...]
Advice on writing your ISO9001-2008 quality system documents
August 10th, 2010Tips on writing your quality system documentation, from someone who’s done it many times.
Writing Your ISO9001:2008 Documentation? KISS!
June 22nd, 2010There’s no need for your ISO9001:2008 quality system documentation to be overly complex. The more complicated you make it, the harder it is to follow, and the less your people will want to do it. So why do people insist on lengthly, complex documents?
Writing a Corrective Action Request to a Vendor
June 17th, 2010Corrective action requests are not limited to your internal operations. You can issue them to suppliers as well. But there are things to consider when sending a vendor corrective action request.
What If Governments Followed ISO9001:2008?
June 8th, 2010Companies follow ISO9001:2008 in order to reduce mistakes, improve themselves, and improve the bottom line. What if governements followed ISO9001:2008?
Your ISO9001:2008 quality system: A real effort at improving, or the bare minimum?
May 20th, 2010Do you have ISO9001:2008? Does your company genuinely want to improve? Or do you do the bare minimum needed to keep your certificate?
Quality system consultant available
May 13th, 2010Are you thinking about getting registered to ISO9001-2008? Want someone to help you with documentation, training, internal audits, and guiding you through the process?
Say What You Do, Do What You Say…what does it mean to ISO9001-2008?
March 25th, 2010Have you ever heard the phrase “say what you do, do what you say”? Is this a good idea?
ISO9001-2008 Helps Auto Dealer Get Paid!
March 18th, 2010Fitzgerald Auto Malls successfully implemented an ISO9001 quality management system, and it has paid off for them.
Last summer, during the “Cash For Clunkers” program, there were reports that some auto dealers were not being paid by the federal government. Fitzgerald Auto Malls used their ISO9001 system to develop work instructions for their employees as [...]
Why having ISO9001:2008 is more important than ever
February 18th, 2010In our crappy economy, you might think having an ISO9001:2008 quality management system is a frivolous expense. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here’s why you NEED an ISO9001 quality system NOW!
Why the very first ISO9001-2008 audit is the easiest you’ll ever have.
January 15th, 2010You might think your first ISO9001-2008 audit will be your hardest. While the preparation may take a long time, in some ways this will be your easiest audit.
Jitters about first ISO9001:2008 registration audit
December 30th, 2009Have you gone through your first ISO9001:2008 registration audit? How nervous were you? How did you do? Was the nervousness justified?
Differences between ISO9001:2000 and ISO9001:2008
November 27th, 2009Is your quality system ready for the latest revision of the ISO9001 quality system standard?
Have a quality Thanksgiving!
November 25th, 2009We wish everyone (in the US and Canada, at least!) a happy, quality filled Thanksgiving Day holiday. We give thanks for all the great people we get to work with, and for family and friends who have always been there for us.
My biggest pet peeve regarding ISO9001:2008
October 17th, 2009Probably the most annoying part of being an ISO9001:2008 consultant is trying to deal with employees who are perfectly competent, but have no interest in participating in the quality system.
ISO9001:2008 clause 7.5.3 how do you identify your products?
October 15th, 2009ISO9001:2008 clause 7.5.3 requires us to identify products throughout the production process. There are many ways to do this, some not so obvious. How do you do it?
How much can you tailor ISO9001:2008 to your company?
September 22nd, 2009One of the beautiful features of the ISO9001:2008 quality standard is that it gives users a lot of leeway in how to structure your quality system. But there’s a limit to how far you can go.
How ISO9001:2008 can make you a better motorcycle rider
January 18th, 2009The principles of ISO9001:2008 can apply to things you might not consider. Like motorcycle road racing. Huh?
Why I think Santa Claus uses ISO9001-2008
December 19th, 2008Does Santa Claus follow ISO9001-2008? We think so. Here are some reasons why.
More on how to write your ISO9001-2008 Quality Objectives
December 12th, 2008Felix writes: “Greetings, can you please send details about Quality Objectives explanation, including how to create Quality Objectives (Referring Quality Policy), how to link with Quality Policy, how to achieve Quality Objectives (With example). If not meeting the requirement how to close. Can you please provide all with examples.”
Here’s a stab at [...]
Tips on how to be an effective internal auditor in ISO9001:2008
October 22nd, 2008OK, this is it….this is officially the first time I’ve used the term ISO9001:2008 in a blog post. We all have to get used to it eventually, so I thought I’d try it out. Not so painful after all.
The ISO gods have blessed us with a revised quality standard that’s really not so [...]
Information on ISO9001:2008 – its almost here!
September 10th, 2008The ISO9001:2008 revision is almost here. Will you have to rewrite your manual? Inquiring minds want to know.
Apply ISO9001-2000 to your daily life!
August 6th, 2008Ever wonder if you can take ISO9001-2000 out of the office and into daily life? Not as crazy as you might think.
So you’ve got your new ISO9001:2000 certificate. Now what?
July 4th, 2008Hooray! You’ve just passed your first ISO9001:2000 registration audit. Now what do you do?
Using outside companies as part of your Production Process in ISO9001:2000
May 15th, 2008In an ISO9001:2000 quality management system, is it OK to use an outside company as part of your production process?
How many Corrective Action Requests are enough in ISO9001:2000?
May 5th, 2008Ok, you’ve got your ISO9001:2000 quality management system in place. You know you’ve got to write up corrective actions, right? But you would really rather not, right? OK, so to satisfy the auditor at the next audit, how many corrective actions should you do?
Notes on ISO9001:2000 Management Review
April 21st, 2008Management review meetings are a necessary part of your ISO9001:2000 quality management system. But are they a complete waste of time? What can you do to keep them short and effective?
ISO9001:2000: Is An Easy Auditor a Good Thing?
April 5th, 2008Working as an ISO9001:2000 consultant, I’ve seen all manner of auditors. Tough ones can make life very difficult. Easy ones are much more pleasant to work with. But is there a point where an auditor can be “too easy”?
ISO9001:2000 FAQ’s Part 2
March 9th, 2008How long will it take us to get our ISO9001:2000 accreditation?
This is a really tough question, kind of like asking “how long will it take us to get our company organized?”. It all depends, and on several factors.
It depends on things like:
The size of your organization
The quantity and complexity of your processes
[...]
ISO9001:2000 Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ’s part 1
February 18th, 2008ISO9001:2000 FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions. What is ISO9001? Does it apply to my company? Why would I want to get certified? What will it cost me?
To Calibrate or Not to Calibrate Devices in ISO9001:2000
February 4th, 2008What devices do you use to make measurements in your processes? Do you keep gauges around that aren’t calibrated? If so, why? What value is there in keeping “reference only” measuring devices on hand?
Preventive Action Request- Ambiguous? Ever done one?
January 26th, 2008One of the six required procedures in an ISO9001:2000 quality system is regarding preventive action requests. You gotta have a procedure, but have you ever done a preventive action request? Ever seen one? Would you know one if it hit you in your face?
ISO9001:2000 section 5.5 Responsibility, Authority, Communication
January 6th, 2008The ISO9001:2000 quality standard requires that appropriate communication processes are established and documented, and that you’re actually communicating within your organization regarding the effectiveness of the quality system. How are you going to do this?
Do you post ISO9001:2000 related signs around your office?
December 24th, 2007Do you post signs around your building stating your company’s quality policy, as written in your ISO9001:2000 quality system manual? Do you think this is a good idea, or a complete waste of time?
Do you know a company that is ISO9001 certified, but maybe should not be?
October 10th, 2011Have you dealt with a company that allegedly has ISO9001-2008 certification, but you wonder how they keep their certification?
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