... start by having a requirement that every single member of top management to undertake a one-day course, with a complex test at the end of the day ...
AND, this course must be from an outside accredited vendor (I do not make my living as an ISO consultant or trainer)... not necessarily wanting to incur more costs to this already expensive endeavor, but I know how the 'internal courses' will go.
I agree with Sidney, in so much as management & top management need to PROVE they understand what this is about and that it is not just a lobby decoration. For too many managers and TOP managers, it's "ISO? oh, yeah that paper hanging in the lobby, no I don't have time for any of that, get back to me when the CB auditor is here, in the meantime see my jr-flunkie in the corner cubicle."
Most managers don't have a clue what ISO "IS" or what it is trying to accomplish for them, they just see it as an inconvenience to them and want nothing to do with it. I have had very cold receptions from managers when I try to audit them... such a chilly reception even after we found that pesky clause they failed to notice in the sales contract... can you say 'breach of contract'?
As for what I would like to see:
1) Less requirements for record keeping. Yes, we have a part that is not per purchasing spec, but is well within the usable tolerance for the assembly. Why do we need to make a record of all of them... it is not value-added and it won't affect the final product when in-use. Now if the part was unusable or required customer concession, these are different.
2) Obvious management disdain for ISO - should be a major non-conformance. It breeds a systemic disdain amongst the workers!
