Being new (I registered today) I'm trying to find my way around and don't seem to be able to find a section where I can ask for advice.

I recently attended an interview for a job with a business with an established QMS and was asked what I would do to 'Reinvigorate' the QMS.

Other than suggesting 'practice v procedure' and 'process mapping' exercises, I was short of ideas. What would you have suggested?

Thanks :thanx:

Welcome to the cove, Tim. :bigwave:

Did he say why he felt it needed to be reinvigorated?

I would have countered with "What problems have you identified with the current QMS? Why does it need to be 'invigorated?"

Until one knows the failure modes, it would be difficult to define/plan a remedy.

How funny, Marc. Great minds do think alike. :D

We were writing at the same time. You pushed the button first. I noticed that we said the same thing. :agree1:

Welcome to the Cove Tim.

Don't ever be afraid to ask advice where ever you feel like asking it. If you pick the wrong spot, one of the moderators will probably move it to the right area. Do your best to find a thread dealing with the topic you want to discuss and post it there. Pretty soon you will be an "old-timer" and won't have that problem.

I agree with Marc and Cari. It would be tough to define how you would fix something if you didn't know what was broken.

That's why I think they asked the question. I have seen many new guys come into a system and start swinging an axe. They seem to have a predetermined agenda and they want to change everything to their way of doing things. My best guess would be that the one who makes a statement that they would like to work with the system as it is before making any recommendations for change is the person who will be offered the job.

Good luck on the interviews.

Dave

Welcome to the Cove Tim :bigwave: ... As for the question, I agree with what's been said already.

/Claes

...My best guess would be that the one who makes a statement that they would like to work with the system as it is before making any recommendations for change is the person who will be offered the job...
A good guess, IMO. Also good advice for when one does get that new job!

I recently attended an interview for a job with a business with an established QMS and was asked what I would do to 'Reinvigorate' the QMS.Tim, obviously the organization has a QMS that is not "embraced" by the employees. In other words, very likely, this organization's QMS is perceived as something "external" to the way it conducts it's daily operations. Typical problem all over the World.

The secret for a well established QMS is to make it part of the way the organization functions day in, day out, without meaningless, non value added tasks and activities. The responsibilities and accountabilities associated with the QMS to be spread throughout the organization and not to be placed on a few individual’s shoulders.

So, if I were you, I would answer this question by stating that the QMS would be reinvigorated by making it clear to all employees (starting with senior managers) that Quality can only be consistently achieved and sustainable if ALL departments do their part.

Tim, obviously the organization has a QMS that is not "embraced" by the employees. In other words, very likely, this organization's QMS is perceived as something "external" to the way it conducts it's daily operations. Typical problem all over the World.

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I think you could have hit the nail on the head! The interviewer did suggest that maybe the QMS was taken for granted and that some people perhaps didn't fully understand its purpose nor how it affected their jobs.


PS Thanks for the welcome everyone

Hi Tim,
Being in "new person mode" myself at the moment, what I have done is to review all the major ISO processes (Audits, Mgmt Review, CAPA) within my first 4 weeks to see what seems to be working well and what doesn't. The interviewer may be able to tell you what he perceives to be working poorly, but a thorough review of the QMS you're taking over will tell YOU where the holes are.

So, I would respond to the interviewer by asking some basic questions about the QMS, what methods they are using, what problems they are having, and then say that you would do a thorough review of the QMS and make recommendations in your first management review meeting. If you have a particular approach to QA, or management in general, that you prefer, I would voice that in the interview also. Your approach to quality and management may be the reinvigoration that they need, vs anything specific to the QMS.

Welcome to the Cove!
RosieA

I am with Marc and Cari on this. How can you know what to do if you do not what caused the lack of invigoration in the system in the first place. The system should be working and have means built within that allow it to reinvigorate itself(corrective action, preventive action, continual improvment, defined responsibilities and measurables), if it does not that is where I guess it needs to start.
I really do not understand how it can be in need of reinvigoration if it is a good system, unless it is a brand new or compliance only system.

JMO,
Mark

I'm not sure I agree that good systems reinvigorate themselves, Mark. IMHO, I think anyone whose QMS has been in place for awhile needs fresh approaches and new methodology periodically. I'm sure all of us have taken a concept or practice we've read about in the Cove and applied them in our own QMS in order to move beyond where we are or try a new approach to an old problem.

In my experience, some areas that tend to get stale include management review, data analysis, and problem solving. New methods, new technology, and new tools can do wonders in shaking up our thought processes.

... have means built within that allow it to reinvigorate itself(corrective action, preventive action, continual improvment, defined responsibilities and measurables), if it does not that is where I guess it needs to start...
I wholeheartedly agree with this. Even though the word reinvigorate was sort of a weird choice of word, these are the processes that are supposed to continually "invigorate" the QMS.

I'm not sure I agree that good systems reinvigorate themselves, Mark. IMHO, I think anyone whose QMS has been in place for awhile needs fresh approaches and new methodology periodically. ...
In my experience, some areas that tend to get stale include management review, data analysis, and problem solving. New methods, new technology, and new tools can do wonders in shaking up our thought processes.
Maybe we have different definitions of CI (continual improvement), but my definition would include what you said above. I think you agree with me but just do not know it yet. :D
Mark