BSI PreAssessment Visit ISO 94-2000 - What to expect?

[Bob_M]

Yes I know I could/should have asked our auditor this question sooner (he's hard to get ahold of and I thought I had most things covered, but my stress level is rising again!)

Alright we currently use BSI and I have already sent our Manual, policy, objectives and 6 required procedures for off site review.
I know the auditor will want to look at/discuss the remainder of our procedures and obtain further explanation/details about our processes.

I believe this pre-assessment visit will MOSTLY be a "desk/paperwork" audit, but what else can/should I expect or be prepared to show/explain?
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I already know we're weak in defining our "goals and objectives" and a few other spots, but I'm hoping this Pre-Assessment will help me figure out what we missed (by alot).

 

[howste]

A pre-assessment should be very similar to a certification audit. You should be prepared to answer any questions and show any evidence that relates to the standard and your quality system.

 

[Bob_M]

A pre-assessment should be very similar to a certification audit. You should be prepared to answer any questions and show any evidence that relates to the standard and your quality system.

OK Thanks.
FYI: This is my first pre-assessement and certificate audit as the Quality Manager. The last 2 were just surveillance audits...

 

[Randy]

Well seeing as I occasionally may work as a BSI auditor you may not really care what I may want to contribute

A preassessment is usually used to verify that the essential elements of the system are in place (we're talking system design here). This is mainly done thru document review, but some interviewing of the MR and maybe 1 or 2 other key players can take place. The visit should not involve going onto the workfloor for anything other than a site tour...no interviewing or any of that stuff.

Another reason for the preassessment is to initiate a sense of teaming and to help bothe parties get a warm fuzzy.

Don't worry about the preassessment. Look upon any bleeps that are discovered as an opportunity to use your C/P action process and as material that can be used as part of the mgmt review and system improvement process.

No sweat!!

 

[Bob_M]

Well seeing as I occasionally may work as a BSI auditor you may not really care what I may want to contribute

A preassessment is usually used to verify that the essential elements of the system are in place (we're talking system design here). This is mainly done thru document review, but some interviewing of the MR and maybe 1 or 2 other key players can take place. The visit should not involve going onto the workfloor for anything other than a site tour...no interviewing or any of that stuff.

Another reason for the preassessment is to initiate a sense of teaming and to help bothe parties get a warm fuzzy.

Don't worry about the preassessment. Look upon any bleeps that are discovered as an opportunity to use your C/P action process and as material that can be used as part of the mgmt review and system improvement process.

No sweat!!

Actually Randy I was hoping you WOULD reply.
I'm not to worried and we did opt for the pre-assessment so we could fix anything before the "real" audit.
Our auditor has been here twice within the last year, so some of the familarity is already there (depending on his memory).
I'm the MR so that's already taken care of.

I know we need better "measurable" goals, and we're working on it. It's not a new/foreign concept, but sometimes $$ tracking is more important that "goal" tracking. That and we still need to "officially" define some of our objectives... *shrug*

I'm a little concerned that our product realization is a bit weak, but when we implement a new product, many items are "handled" within our accounting/manufacturing software whether or not we have a "well-designed" process (ie Product description/requirements, Routings (process), BOM, packaging, etc are pretty much layed out for each product whether or not we were ISO. Some of the planning and documentation might be weak. But at the same time, we don't currently get very many NEW products or part numbers per year *shrug*)

I'm planning on straigthening up my files/records within my office (a major personal weakness), digging out Mgmt Review minutes (not very fancy but I have some), making sure our IA reports are "closed", and try to relax.

I'll probably be more worried in October IF things do not go very well on Monday.

 

[Randy]

I think the primary weak link (so-to-speak) is being able to provide a good means of "showing-the-flow". I recently paticipated in a transition audit. The folks didn't get recommended for the new cert because they couldn't show what was happening when. They still identified their activities in a verticle/functional format instead of in the horizontal/cyclic way that organizations actually function.

As for better measurable goals....They're your goals. Kinda decide what you really want your goals to do or achieve and come up with the methodology to track the "success". If it's not that clear you then have an opportunity for improvment by redefining the way you measure the status of goal obtainment.

Every area (process) that you feel that you are weak you need to initiate some corrective action for improvement of that area (process). In doing so you'll be pro-actively skinning a few cats.

Good luck.

 

[Bob_M]

I think the primary weak link (so-to-speak) is being able to provide a good means of "showing-the-flow". I recently paticipated in a transition audit. The folks didn't get recommended for the new cert because they couldn't show what was happening when. They still identified their activities in a verticle/functional format instead of in the horizontal/cyclic way that organizations actually function.

As for better measurable goals....They're your goals. Kinda decide what you really want your goals to do or achieve and come up with the methodology to track the "success". If it's not that clear you then have an opportunity for improvment by redefining the way you measure the status of goal obtainment.

Every area (process) that you feel that you are weak you need to initiate some corrective action for improvement of that area (process). In doing so you'll be pro-actively skinning a few cats.

Good luck.

I made a "basic" process map for our manual that covers the general flow of things. Time permitting (or if required) I would like to make/see more process maps for all areas of our company. Our doucments are still word driven - very few have flow charts included let alone as the main information source.

Goals - Just a matter of finding what we CAN measure and start doing it.

I'll keep the "paper-trail" idea in mind for system changes using either Continual Improvement forms or CA/PA forms.

 

[Randy]

Cool, go for it!

Marc and some of the other Guru's have posted a ton of process flow and other types of visual dealies here in the Cove. I don't know if you're able to download or not, but the minor expense may be worth it to ya.

 

[Bob_M]

Wish me luck!

Well it's Monday and auditor is scheduled to arrive in a few minutes.
Wish me luck, I'll probably need it in a few areas.

 

[Cari Spears]

Well it's Monday and auditor is scheduled to arrive in a few minutes.
Wish me luck, I'll probably need it in a few areas.

Good Luck! Let us know how it went!