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Auditing and Being Audited
Slide 87,  Rendered: 2/13/04
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Systems / Processes
Inputs
Outputs
Outcomes
Product
or
Service
End-user
Supplier
Machines
Methods
Material
People
Environment
Measures In The Extended System
Convert to Measurables When None Exist
The biggest problem in the feedback loop is effectiveness of communications. As an internal example, I have seen very high walls between departments. Design and manufacturing and quality all often have very high walls. Manufacturing feeds back to design problems the have or are encountering where they think a design change should be evaluated and design says “Tough. We have our own problems.” Sometimes this is the result of a lack of resources but typically its a combination of that and a failure to work as a team. I believe this is one reason Japanese manufacturing works so well. My experiences with Mexican companies has also been that there is more of a team work atmosphere.
No matter what extended systems exist in your company, it is important that it is understood that feedback has to be evaluated. To do that, in 99% of the cases, some type of measurables have to be evolved. For example,  in your quality policy you are required to state quality objectives. In addition, they qualify their requirement by requiring that objectives must be measurable. The logic is simple. If they are not measurable you cannot know if you are meeting your goals.