ISO 9001

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ISO 9001
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Vanessa

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 8324

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 11 6:37 am Post subject:
Well done! Fingers crossed.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15981

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 11 9:48 am Post subject:

I would suggest if you go for ISO9001 you do as much of it as possible. I used to work in the electronics industry and at that time ISO 9000 seemed to cover most of what is now covered by 9000, 9001 and 9004. Any number of companies got a consultant in to do it and ended up with a system that didn't fit and nobody understood.

The company I worked for did it all ourselves and passed first time with a few minor points raised, and when I went off long term sick, the system still worked although I had been doing most of it for some time before.

Best of luck with the grant.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 12 2:07 pm Post subject:
We attained our ISO 9001 accreditation. It was a worthwhile experience not least to get a documented quality management system in place.

Vanessa

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 8324

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 12 2:09 pm Post subject:
Well done!

12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 12 2:11 pm Post subject:

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 12 2:12 pm Post subject:
Great, very pleased. Aside from the practical benefit, it'll tick one moe box, and add one more point on tender responses. Anyone know of a job going simply to reply to tenders?

Jb

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91� N

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 12 2:26 pm Post subject:

While it might be necessary because tenders ask for it that doesn't actually make it any use. We went through this process some time ago and discovered that it's quite easy to get ISO900n certification. You just need to have a documented process and follow it. This of course has nothing to do with whether the process is right or even right for your business. Your process for handling complaints could consist of a document stating that your company employs hit men to deal with repeat complaint customers and, as long as you actually do that, you would be ISO900n compliant.

<end cynic mode>

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 12 2:32 pm Post subject:
Agree absolutely. However, to access public funds, tenders are a way of life, and most are oversubscribed, and a tick box exercise to get rid of submissions takes place, rightly or wrongly. And ISO 9001 is one of those boxes.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 12 4:10 pm Post subject:

Nick wrote:

Anyone know of a job going simply to reply to tenders?

I'd be happy to off load that task. I really don't have the writing skills or the words to make the most of the opportunities that arise. Reading back through some of them make me cringe.

oldish chris

Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 4148
Location: Comfortably Wet Southport

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 12 6:37 pm Post subject:

Way back in around 1985, when ISO 9000 was more commonly called BS5750, I was involved in introducing it into a government IT dept. In our case the main motivation was to increase productivity. We approximately doubled it.

The factor that had the biggest impact on quality was "Fagan Inspections", I was taught by IBM.

The question is Vegplot, has ISO 9000 had any impact on your company, other than a little certificate? (Just curious)

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 12 7:09 pm Post subject:

ISO 9001 is a very different beast that it used to be. It's much more about the culture of quality, process, and improvement rather than the document everything you do approach. I was heavily involved with ISO 9001 back in the early 90's and it was a nightmare by comparison.

It's made a big difference to the way we work helping us maintain consistently high standards and reducing admin are but two of the benefits.

As for direct economic benefit it's too early to tell.

Toffer

Joined: 01 Nov 2009
Posts: 247
Location: Sutton St Edmund, Lincs

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 12 7:56 am Post subject:

As someone who sits on the other side off the desk (I work in purchasing and supply chain management) I can tell you that people do look favourably on the ISO9001 and 14001 qualifications and, if they're any good at what they do, it is more than a tick box exercise.

Much as people in purchasing understand that it is possible that have a well run company without these certificates, or a badly run one with them, without some sort of external verification we'd need to employ a small army of supplier inspectors to run tenders, which, of course, isn't possible.

I hope that gives you some reassurance that your time has been well spend and having ISO9001 should open doors for you as you hope.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Feb 09, 14 3:36 pm Post subject:
Vegplot, does ISO9001 have any interest at all in your H&S policy? (Urgent response appreciated, I'm ticking boxes on a Sunday afternoon.) ETA. Ignore this, I found what I needed, ticked the boxes, and am pub bound.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sun Feb 09, 14 7:39 pm Post subject:
Sorry, just seen this. To answer your question anyway - no, not as far as I'm aware but I would need to check documentation to verify.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15981

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 14 8:00 am Post subject:

Some years ago, when I was in the microelectronics industry, we did ISO9000 or the BS equivalent. At that stage a lot of companies were getting people in to sort it out for them, and most ended up with a system that they didn't understand and didn't really work for them, but ticked the boxes. As we did it ourselves, we understood what we were doing, and ended up with a system that worked, and was capable of expansion. I am glad to say that the proof was that when I, who was in charge of it at that stage, went off long term sick, the system continued to work.

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