Good day everybody and I would like to wish everybody a happy and healthy new year!

I would like to bring up a new discussion: what do you do as a Quality manager when your organization is going to move to another location?

I think that a lot of documents can stay the same (like document control, internl audits etc...), but for some aspects of the quality manual, things will change dramatically.

Does anyone have experience in this manner?


:thanx:
Sander

I would like to bring up a new discussion: what do you do as a Quality manager when your organization is going to move to another location?

I think that a lot of documents can stay the same (like document control, internl audits etc...), but for some aspects of the quality manual, things will change dramatically.

Does anyone have experience in this manner?

Sander

Veen,
What would change? Do you have the traditional manual with company history, location, etc.? If that's the only concern, it's minor editing. Your manual is an overview and shouldn't change because you moved. I would be more concerned about those documents that contain processes that are changed because of the new location. Offhand, I can't think of any that would. I would think that the selection of this new facility was with existing processes in mind. Think about what has really changed, beside your parking place. ;) :agree:

I have gone through this (last spring), and the only changes that were an issue were where the processes had changed due to some reorganization of our press lines and responsibilities. It really wasn't that big of a deal.

I did, however, take the move as an opportunity to "reintroduce" our QMS...

I would think that this would be a topic for discussion in your Management Review at the very least (refer to ISO 9001 5.6.2f). The resultant decision may be that there should be no to minimal impact (per your comments expressed here), but at least there should be records to demonstrate that management took the opportunity to make this evaluation. :bigwave:

I will agree with the previous replys, with the added comment that a "thin" manual like ours poses no problems at all. I would have to edit the address, phone no. and things like that. Nothing more.

A question to mr veen. When you say that "some aspects of the quality manual, things will change dramatically": What are those? Maybe we can give you better advice if we know.

Btw, I'm about to update our manual due to a changed company name. The same goes there. Only minor changes, but just like Mustang, I will use the opportunity to promote the QMS.

/Claes

Good day everybody and I would like to wish everybody a happy and healthy new year!

I would like to bring up a new discussion: what do you do as a Quality manager when your organization is going to move to another location?

I think that a lot of documents can stay the same (like document control, internl audits etc...), but for some aspects of the quality manual, things will change dramatically.

Does anyone have experience in this manner?


:thanx:
Sander

I would agree that almost all of your procedures will remain the same with the exception of some minor administrative changes. I am not sure what type of business you are in but if you are moving equipment you will want to make sure that before you start running your line that the equipment is operating as intended and is putting of good product.

The only major head I can think of is forms/paperwork/procedures that include the old address like accounts payable and receivable. And depending on the type of business (distrubution vs. manufacturing) this could be a big headache!

I would agree that almost all of your procedures will remain the same with the exception of some minor administrative changes. I am not sure what type of business you are in but if you are moving equipment you will want to make sure that before you start running your line that the equipment is operating as intended and is putting of good product.

Mr Veen

Even more to the point perhaps - I expect that almost all your processes will remain the same, and if you have managed to avoid a "separate" quality manual (can anyone tell me who benefits from its production as set out in the standard?) then your entire "quality system" should not need to change if you have based your (management) system on a description of your processes. The same applies if you operate from more than 1 location - describe how the job gets done, and refine your process descriptions to identify any variations due to site-specific requirements.

Good question, and as usual, good comments from the Cove. Dave is correct that this should be brought up in the Management Review, but should also be controlled by Top Management through 5.6.2 b) "ensuring the integrity of the QMS is maintained when changes to the QMS are planned and implemented."

Changes can be radical, at times, although not intended to be (viewed from the top). You didn't specify what industry you work in and some industries, autoimotive for one, can be somewhat nasty when dealing with moving production equipment, much less the entire facility.

Think of the company which has had a major change in its organizational structure. Now that can be an impact on the integrity of its QMS!!

Peter's advice is very good, which gives reason for effectively defining the processes you use to provide whatever product/service you sell to your customers. Good Luck :thedeal:

Planning, planning, planning. Good thread!

Are you moving your production equipment, or buying new? How does that affect your capability to produce? (I am not necessarily talking about QS/TS type capability, this would go into monitoring/measuring)

Does your move affect your customers' ability to interface? For one day, for a long period of time? Planning...

I guess to make a long story short, I would look at a move as a prime opportunity to use planning to make the transition as painless as possible. You might not even know about some of your procedure/work instruction change needs until you actually get into production, but at least with proper planning, you should have a good idea of what to look for and when.

Good luck!

Planning, planning, planning. Good thread!

Are you moving your production equipment, or buying new? How does that affect your capability to produce? (I am not necessarily talking about QS/TS type capability, this would go into monitoring/measuring)

Does your move affect your customers' ability to interface? For one day, for a long period of time? Planning...

I guess to make a long story short, I would look at a move as a prime opportunity to use planning to make the transition as painless as possible. You might not even know about some of your procedure/work instruction change needs until you actually get into production, but at least with proper planning, you should have a good idea of what to look for and when.

Good luck!

Very good point Steel. Several years ago, at a different employer, we switched over to a new MRP software without much planning prior to the turn on. To make a long story short, we brought production to a halt and were two weeks behind in our deliveries in a very short time. It took about 2 months to get us back to an on-time delivery schedule. If we had only taken the time to plan some contingencies before turning on the new process, we probably would have been better off.