Setting Up New QMS - New US Location

[jbdominguez]

I am working to set up our QMS for our location. We are a German company with it's first US location. Existing procedures are few and far between. Question: Should there be a procedure on how to use each piece of measuring equipment? I know we need them for more complicated equipment, but should we have them for calipers, depth gages, etc.? Any help is appreciated!!

 

[Colin]

It largely depends upon who is using the equipment. Part of basic training for apprentices (when I was one) was how to hold, clean, calibrate and read basic measuring equipment. In other words, we became competent in the use of such equipment so required no work instructions/procedures.

On the other hand, if you are asking lower skilled people to use and read the equipment, it may be appropriate (though I would think unlikely) to have such documentation. I would concentrate more on training people to use the equipment and testing their ability to achieve the correct results.

 

[John Broomfield]

I am working to set up our QMS for our location. We are a German company with it's first US location. Existing procedures are few and far between. Question: Should there be a procedure on how to use each piece of measuring equipment? I know we need them for more complicated equipment, but should we have them for calipers, depth gages, etc.? Any help is appreciated!!

jbdominguez,

You may find the existing procedures (and any necessary task instructions) are undocumented but the operators still know the specified way of completing the process or one of its tasks.

After determining the processes (and process owners) required for your QMS to be successful you can analyze each process to learn how much documentation is necessary.

Often, if necessary, the documented forms, checklists, instructions and procedures already exist but may not be well organized.

As Colin says, the extent of documentation required depends on the competence of the people doing the work. Other factors include the rate at which you plan to grow the company and staff turnover.

John