One Procedure Containing Several Processes

[QAMTY]

Hi everybody

Is it possible and practical to have oen procedure including several processes?

Besides to the ones already known, e.g.

(Docs. control, records control, audits, etc.)

Other I remember, the Realization Process.

Because regarding to procedures, normally they refer only to their own processes, well, other processes are mentioned but as a support
but they are not the main actors.

For example, for a Sales procedure only include activities into the Sales process, they don´t overlap other processes, in fact when describing
the process map, the inputs and ouputs define the borders.

Would exist a case/sample (process or sub-processes) crossing the borders?

This doubt came to me because in my case one guy act as
sales manager, expeditor, and inspector of the product.
and I thought to include in one procedure several processes.

Any Idea?

Thanks in advance

[Pancho]

In Reply to Parent Post by QAMTY

Hi everybody

Is it possible and practical to have oen procedure including several processes?

Besides to the ones already known, e.g.

(Docs. control, records control, audits, etc.)

Other I remember, the Realization Process.

Because regarding to procedures, normally they refer only to their own processes, well, other processes are mentioned but as a support
but they are not the main actors.

For example, for a Sales procedure only include activities into the Sales process, they don´t overlap other processes, in fact when describing
the process map, the inputs and ouputs define the borders.

Would exist a case/sample (process or sub-processes) crossing the borders?

This doubt came to me because in my case one guy act as
sales manager, expeditor, and inspector of the product.
and I thought to include in one procedure several processes.

Any Idea?

Thanks in advance

Processes are logical sets of related activities that turn inputs into outputs.

I'd suggest you have separate documents for each of them even if one guy does several of them, otherwise the process flow may get muddled losing one objective of the process approach - to avoid them muddles in the flow.

[Big Jim]

If your question is concerning ISO 9001:2008 requirements about how to handle procedures then take a look at 4.2.1 c & d.

"The quality management system shall include . . . documented procedures and records required by this international standard . . . documents, including records, determined by the organization to be necessary to ensure the effective planning, operation and control of its processes"

So c says you need documented procedures for the topics in the standard that require written procedures. There are six of them. d says your documentation needs to include whatever it needs to have an effective quality management system and on that note many organizations have determined that they need more than the basic six. You get to determine what additional ones if any that you need.

Note 1 after 4.2.1 adds illumination to the topic.

"Where the term "documented procedure" appears within this international standard, this means that the procedure is established, documented, implemented and maintained. A single document may address the requirements for one or more procedures. A requirement for a documented procedure may be covered by more than one document"

So you get to format your procedures any way you want as long as he somehow cover the basic six as well as any other topics you feel are needed.

So there is no requirement to line up you procedures to your processes. You can if you want and can do so effectively, but you don't need to do so to fulfill a requirement of the standard.

You get to figure out what will be effective for you.

[somashekar]

In Reply to Parent Post by QAMTY

Hi everybody

Is it possible and practical to have oen procedure including several processes?

Besides to the ones already known, e.g.

(Docs. control, records control, audits, etc.)

Other I remember, the Realization Process.

Because regarding to procedures, normally they refer only to their own processes, well, other processes are mentioned but as a support
but they are not the main actors.

For example, for a Sales procedure only include activities into the Sales process, they don´t overlap other processes, in fact when describing
the process map, the inputs and ouputs define the borders.

Would exist a case/sample (process or sub-processes) crossing the borders?

This doubt came to me because in my case one guy act as
sales manager, expeditor, and inspector of the product.
and I thought to include in one procedure several processes.

Any Idea?

Thanks in advance

Documented procedures must be process dependent. Person must be trained about the procedure to be adhered to when a process is to be executed.
If a process can get a NC part, lead to the NC parts handling procedure. When NC is handled per the procedure, records make me generated, at this stage lead it to the control of records procedure / analysis of data procedure. When the data gets analysed per the procedure, it may trigger a corrective action. Hence at this stage lead it to the CAPA procedure.

[DrM2u]

In Reply to Parent Post by QAMTY

Is it possible and practical to have oen procedure including several processes?

Like all the others posters have indicated, there are no set rules as to how many processes can be covered by a procedure. IMHO, it is wiser to have separate procedures for each process because:
- ease of document control for the documented procedures
- ease of updating a procedure when the process changes
- avoidance of capturing the same process in more than one procedure and having discrepancies among procedures
- ease of correlating and cross-referencing processes and procedures

I have also encountered instances where a person wears more than one hat (is responsible for more than one process). Separate procedures for each process helped keep things simple and facilitated training of the personnel involved in each process. I am sure that other posters could come with more arguments for or against having separate procedures, but keep in mind your organization's needs when taking a decision.

[Jennifer Kirley]

How you arrange and format your procedures is up to you. What matters most is that their users will consistently apply them in their work in order to achieve desired results. Of course that means they are accurate, but 4.2 specifies they be readily accessible and up-to-date. They can be chapters, Attachments or Appendixes to the quality manual or they can be separate and merely listed; they can be pages on an Intranet site, and they can even be in a Wiki system as Pancho has tantalizingly described.