Anyone out there have a good idea for a quality policy sign? Should it contain the company header and where would you post it in your manufacturing facility & offices? :thanx:

We have a 5 sentence quality policy. There is a laminated copy hanging at every desk and workstation in the company either in its original 8.5 x 11 format or in the miniature luggage tag version.

It is headed by the term "Quality Policy", our company logo, and the release date. As it has been debated here, your quality policy does not need to carry an approval signature, as long as you have a record that the quality policy has been reviewed and approved.

Anyone out there have a good idea for a quality policy sign? Should it contain the company header and where would you post it in your manufacturing facility & offices? :thanx:

Hello Jkelley,

Personally, I am not too wild about banners and signs because they tend to lose their impact pretty quick. However, your could print the policy and objectives on employee's badges/ID cards, etc. You could ask IT people to develop a screen saver including policy & objectives for the organization's computers.

But you know what? If employees can explain in their own words what the policy & objectives mean to them, and it's coming from "the heart", meaning with passion and enthusiasm, that would mean a lot more to me than the customary banners and signs.

Just my :2cents:

Stijloor.

Hello Jkelley,

Personally, I am not too wild about banners and signs because they tend to lose their impact pretty quick. However, your could print the policy and objectives on employee's badges/ID cards, etc. You could ask IT people to develop a screen saver including policy & objectives for the organization's computers.

But you know what? If employees can explain in their own words what the policy & objectives mean to them, and it's coming from "the heart", meaning with passion and enthusiasm, that would mean a lot more to me than the customary banners and signs.

Just my :2cents:

Stijloor.
I do like the idea of the screen saver, but most employees here are pretty "touchy" about that one, go figure? We'll see how this one goes, but I like that idea. Thanks!

If employees can explain in their own words what the policy & objectives mean to them, and it's coming from "the heart", meaning with passion and enthusiasm, that would mean a lot more to me than the customary banners and signs.Thus the reason for our signs. Instead of wasting time having everyone memorize the quality policy we have them point to the sign. Not a single auditor has wasted this opportunity to ask, "So what does that mean to you?" Every single one of our team members can give you a personal example of how each statement impacts their daily work and take you to a visual example.

Very good point. I am running both ideas by executive management currently and we'll see.

But you know what? If employees can explain in their own words what the policy & objectives mean to them, and it's coming from "the heart", meaning with passion and enthusiasm, that would mean a lot more to me than the customary banners and signs.

Just my :2cents:

Stijloor.Very true. I can't help feeling that printed banners and such is like preaching religion via roadside signs. I've done the framed quality policy on the wall before but have since removed them. It didn't work. Create familiarity with the policy by openly inviting periodic review from everyone. Employees will then be able to paraphrase the intent of the policy as if it came "from the heart".

If it was my preference I would make badges, but that policy does not exist as of yet at my company. We are a smaller company and upper management likes that feel. So the badge idea worked for me in at a previous employer, but not an option here, for now. Some people when it comes to a language barrier have had to just point to the sign in my experience also. Thanks to you all for your advice!

Thus the reason for our signs. Instead of wasting time having everyone memorize the quality policy we have them point to the sign. Not a single auditor has wasted this opportunity to ask, "So what does that mean to you?" Every single one of our team members can give you a personal example of how each statement impacts their daily work and take you to a visual example.

Icy,

I did not imply that employees had to "memorize" policy & objectives. But too many times I've seen banners and signs as an attempt to "look good" rather than "be good." In other words: "window dressing." But if it works for your organization and folks experience this as valuable and meaningful, fantastic!

Stijloor.

A company I worked for had the vision or mission statement acronyms printed on ID lanyards. It was QCDTAE (Quality, Cost, Delivery, Technology, Administration, Environment). It was always carefully pointed out the Quality came first.

They also had all the policy statements on laminated ID card size (eg TS, 5S, etc) These were encouraged to be placed around the work area as quick reference guides.

I did not imply that employees had to "memorize" policy & objectives. But too many times I've seen banners and signs as an attempt to "look good" rather than "be good." In other words: "window dressing."This wasn't aimed at you, Stij, it comes from experience with the following progression:
-Implement formal quality system with reviewed and approved Quality Policy
-Silly auditor wants to hear QP quoted by employees
-Put QP within reach of all employees so they don't have to memorize, they can read.
-Auditor now says, "Don't read it, tell me what it means to you."
-Employee has opportunity to relate QP's meaning rather than parroting "Customer feedback, Continuous(or Continual) Improvement, Measurement, Analysis, blah, blah, blah."
-Icy says, "Now we're in the right place."

I believe that having all your production associates involved enough in improvement projects that they can explain how the process works is far more valuable that a big sign that says, "We are committed to Continual Improvement."