Welcome to the Elsmar Cove!
ISO 9000 - QS-9000 Information Exchange

News and Views
(From Quality Magazine - 1997-03-12)

RAB outlines problems with QS-9000 audits

Through QS-9000 witness audits, Registrar Accreditation Board (RAB) examiners have found that some registrars aren't conducting QS-9000 audits as thoroughly as they should. "As examiner observations accumulated, we saw a need for improvement. We're letting registrars know about these concerns and will look at them very closely during future on-site audits," said Janet Jacobsen, spokesperson for the Milwaukee-based accreditation body.

The areas of concern were outlined in a Nov. 7, 1996, memo from Paul Fortlege, RAB's vice president of operations. According to Fortlege's memo, RAB examiners witnessed:

• a lack of knowledge of International Automotive Sector Group-sanctioned QS-9000 interpretations
• auditors not auditing against all QS-9000 requirements, such as some or all aspects of Section III, not auditing all shifts, not utilizing Advanced Product-Quality Planning as an audit tool, not recognizing what the full content of a Production Part-Approval Process file should be, and omitting section 4.9b (which addresses government safety and environmental regulations)
• a lack of awareness of Appendix B, the Code of Practice for Quality System Registrars
• a lack of understanding of automotive expectations
• auditors not complying with Appendix H, Survey Audit Days Table.

Most of these areas of concern weren't surprising to either QS-9000 auditors or automotive companies. "I'm not surprised to hear about these problems, but it seems early in the game. My bet is it will get worse," said Jack Tyson, manager of business improvement for tier-one supplier United Technologies Automotive, Dearborn, MI.

Tyson said that the problems stem from limited registrar resources. "We've forced the need and we can't expect registrars to meet the need in six months." Tyson also serves as chairperson of the Southfield, MI-based Automotive Industry Action Group's (AIAG) QS-9000 Sub-tier Deployment Work Group.

To date, RAB has accredited 29 registrars for QS-9000 compliance. According to Jacobsen, that number has grown steadily since the first three were accredited in late 1995. Worldwide QS-9000 accreditations are at approximately 60 registrars, which includes multiple listings for registrars operating in different countries.

This growing demand and lack of supply has opened doors to less-knowledgeable auditors and registrars. "We have a bunch of rookies out there," Tyson said. To support this assertion, he cited an example he heard from what he termed a "reliable source." In this case, a registrar found 32 nonconformities during a QS-9000 audit and within a few days that number was down by 29. "I realize some areas [of QS-9000] are open to interpretation, but something is wrong with this picture," he said.

All of this highlights a concern of Bill Niedzwiecki's: Are customers as aware of the registration process as they should be? For example, do customers fully understand that accreditation from multiple accreditation bodies doesn't necessarily mean the registrar is better than its competitors, but it almost guarantees higher cost because it costs money to have multiple accreditations? "A knowledgeable and notified customer is the best customer," Niedzwiecki said. He is director of business operations for Centerior Registration Services, Toledo, OH.

On the other hand, some are encouraged to see the proactive approach RAB has taken. "I commend the RAB for its oversight of the process and willingness to step up to things it's observed in the witness-audit process. I encourage other accreditation bodies to undertake similar types of initiatives when they see that corrective action is warranted as a result of their activities with certification bodies," said Dan Reid, supplier quality development North American Operations, General Motor Corp.'s Powertrain Group, Pontiac, MI.

"It's a good and positive step that RAB is monitoring the certification bodies," said Lee Pfennigwerth, president, Davy Registrar Services Inc., Pittsburgh. "We welcome the scrutiny," said Lane Hallenbeck, director of operations, ABS Quality Evaluations Inc., Houston. "Luckily, RAB put people out there and recog- nized the problems," agreed Tyson of United Technologies. RAB is not the only organization that has recognized the lack of thoroughness among QS-9000 auditors. The AIAG plans to address methods of handling auditor inconsistency during a March 17 presentation of the 1997 Quality Survey results.

Given all the less-than-positive attention, one might think that the entire QS-9000 process is on shaky ground. Not so, according to Tyson. He added that several registrars, including the one his company has been working with, do have the necessary expertise to properly audit for QS-9000 compliance. "I can guarantee that [the concerns outlined in the RAB memo] aren't happening with our registrar," Tyson said.

This page last reviewed or edited: Sun, 2007-02-04 17:07 (Coordinated Universal Time [ZULU] -5 hours)

Forums and Site Provided and Maintained by Marc Timothy Smith