Personal Notes on Production Floor vs. Documented Work Instructions

[samsung]

In Reply to Parent Post by TWIBlogger

A quick search of ISO 9001:2008 reveals the following:

The word "people" is NOT found in the text.

The word "involvement" is NOT found in the text.

Who is minding the store?!

Sidney has perhaps referred to ISO 9000:2005; not ISO 9001:2008. However, all ISO management standards are based on 8 quality management principles. You can find a description of those in ISO 9000:2005.

0.2 Quality management principles
To lead and operate an organization successfully, it is necessary to direct and control it in a systematic and transparent manner. Success can result from implementing and maintaining a management system that is designed to continually improve performance while addressing the needs of all interested parties. Managing an organization encompasses quality management amongst other management disciplines.

Eight quality management principles have been identified that can be used by top management in order to lead the organization towards improved performance...............

BTW, I didn't get the word 'store' ?

[Sidney Vianna]

In Reply to Parent Post by TWIBlogger

Who is minding the store?!

Mr. Lund, there is much more to ISO 9000 than ISO 9001. As for the principles behind the ISO 9000 FAMILY of documents, feel free to peruse http://www.iso.org/iso/qmp_2012.pdf

[TWIBlogger]

In Reply to Parent Post by samsung

BTW, I didn't get the word 'store' ?

Sorry. "Who is minding the store?" is another way of asking,

"Who is in charge?"

"Who is on watch?"

[TWIBlogger]

In Reply to Parent Post by Sidney Vianna

Mr. Lund, there is much more to ISO 9000 than ISO 9001. As for the principles behind the ISO 9000 FAMILY of documents, feel free to peruse http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue..._14000/qmp.htm

Thanks, I'll check it out. I'm curious, how many people in these forums have purchased and actively reference these documents as part of their daily management? Have you found them to be useful?

[sorin]

In Reply to Parent Post by TWIBlogger

Thanks, I'll check it out. I'm curious, how many people in these forums have purchased and actively reference these documents as part of their daily management? Have you found them to be useful?

That's a good idea for a poll..

[pschnoor9]

In Reply to Parent Post by Fenway Frank

Howdy folks. I've referenced The Cove many times, but this is a first-timer post.
I performed an internal audit of my production floor the other day. I found some personnel referencing personal notes to do some jobs (such as starting a machine, mixing marking ink, etc.). My company has documented work instructions for these tasks, and the instructions are readily available. Interestingly, the notes were right on track with the documented instructions. Is this a nonconformance?

Thanks, and I look forward to the responses and discussion.

Hello Frank:

I too have referenced the Cove, and visited today looking for guidance or reference to (fundamentally) the same question you posed. In my example, our techs take drawings and color code or add other references to clarify the process specific to their own styles.

I accept the risks others have pointed out, specifically regarding document updates, and subsequent necessary revisions of personal notes; but as a former technician, personal notes were invaluable to me. In my experience, no work instruction or drawing is "perfect" for every user.

I would specifically ask this forum how to craft a process that allows for personal notes to a certain extent; while acknowledging and mitigating risks associated with personal notes v. published work instructions, drawings, etc.

Some suggestions so far have included keeping personal reference documents in a binder marked "For reference only" (but this solution does not address "official" changes to work documents and the potential for working to obsolete drawings or standards still exisits); another requires personal notes to be discarded on a daily basis, which I find counter-productive.

As you can probably glean from the tone of my response, I think personal notes should be allowed as a necessary aid, but am interested in any risk mitigation techniques or limitation guidelines that may be in use to support my opinion. I realize that not all scenarios will benefit from the allowed use of personal notes (some processes simply do not - or should not - need personal notes).

I welcome all responses, and thank Frank for introducing the topic.

Patricia

[Sidney Vianna]

In Reply to Parent Post by pschnoor9

I would specifically ask this forum how to craft a process that allows for personal notes to a certain extent; while acknowledging and mitigating risks associated with personal notes v. published work instructions, drawings, etc.


Some suggestions so far have included keeping personal reference documents in a binder marked "For reference only" (but this solution does not address "official" changes to work documents and the potential for working to obsolete drawings or standards still exisits); another requires personal notes to be discarded on a daily basis, which I find counter-productive.

Without knowing more specifics about the type of product, it's criticality, the extent of information in the personal notes, etc... it is very hard to devise risk-mitigating measures which would be commensurate to the risks involved. But, and following a previous comment I made on this thread, have you tried involving the workforce who relies on such notes, to come to a sustainable solution and minimizing the life cycle of such notes? Engaging the people who are directly affected by the policies and documents tends to be (in my experience) the best way. An open and frank discussion amongst the stakeholders with a clear intent to mitigate risks, while maintaining process and product integrity tends to lead to workable solutions. Give it a try.

[Sequence_Barry]

Based on our experience with working with companies and documentation regulations, it really comes down to the level of documentation control required and ultimately being able to certify to a customer how a product was manufactured. I believe in highly regulated industries (such as AS9100) this would be a big breach as the notes on the floor are uncontrolled and unapproved. There is no method of keeping whats on the "yellow sticky tab" up to date with the controlled documentation (unless the sticky tab is a controlled document) You can't supply the customer with a signed off verification unless employees are following the approved, controlled copies.