Help a newbie to develop a QMS (Quality Management System)

[npryde]

Thanks Jane, for pointing that out. I'm on it!

 

[npryde]

Hello all and happy new year.

I did seek advice during my documents preparation for ISO certification. I completed and submitted it to an auditor for review.
I have attached a report summary. It may look a bit vague but please I wish to have your comments to enable me tidy up my manual. Our scope of work - lighting consulting & electrical engineers (design works).
Thanks

 

[Colin]

Hmmm, there some interesting findings on the list but it is difficult to comment too specifically without seeing the manual itself.

A couple that come to mind are No 4 - Job descriptions not found - these are not a requirement of ISO 9001 and No 10 - all procedures are not matched - ISO 9001 does not specify how procedures should look.

Was this a document review (stage 1 audit) done by a 3rd party certification body?

 

[npryde]

Thanks for the comment Colpart.
Yeah, its document review (stage 1) and done by a third party consultant.

I may get to upload the manual or part of it for review.

A question! Is purchasing required when we don't actually purchase anything related to product realization?

 

[Colin]

Thanks for the comment Colpart.
Yeah, its document review (stage 1) and done by a third party consultant.

I may get to upload the manual or part of it for review.

A question! Is purchasing required when we don't actually purchase anything related to product realization?

No, if you don't purchase any products or services which affect your ability to satisfy your clients, you can exclude it in the manual. Even if you do buy things, you don't have to have a documented procedure, just make sure the process is controlled.

 

[npryde]

We do have a controlled way of doing purchases internally, like identifying a need, choosing the best or approved dealer(computers, stationeries etc) and the manager approving before a purchase is made.

Is it really important to create a procedure for customer property in our possession (drawings hard/soft copy) during contract review & design stages?

 

[Colin]

A controlled way of doing things is important but that does not necessarily have to be by having a documented procedure - apart from the 6 mandatory clauses.

You may be able to provide that control by virtue of having competent people, or through the use of computer software or any other means that suit the business.

If you do decide to have a documented procedure for controlling customer property, it doesn't have to be a 'stand alone' procedure - it could be part of another procedure. So if for example you have a procedure describing how you receive, process and control information such as drawings, just add a bit to it to describe what happens to customer property and how you will report any problems to the customer.

 

[Jason PCSwitches]

Thanks for the comment Colpart.
Yeah, its document review (stage 1) and done by a third party consultant.

I may get to upload the manual or part of it for review.

A question! Is purchasing required when we don't actually purchase anything related to product realization?

I'm curious as to what your company produces. If you do not purchase anything associated with product realization, what exactly does your company produce, and how do you go about it? It's been sometime since your last post, so you are probably well into implementation, just curious, maybe I can be of some help if you still need it. I finished a QMS reform myself just recently. If you'd prefer, send me a PM for privacy.

 

[npryde]

We provide design and consultancy services for electrical engineering projects.(street lighting, power distribution networks). We presently have less than 12 employees.
We use computers, CAD & other electrical software to do design works...which to the best of my knowledge are capital assets. Except for concept designs, we basically work on supplied drawings.
For a typical project, from tender inquiry/bidding==contract review== design planning===design==handing over to the client, we don't buy anything

Enlighten me if I'm missing something. Thanks for your contribution.

 

[GMarianFernandez]

Hi:
In my experience i have found very usefull to have roadmap, a general plan to show progress toward certification, can collored when finished an activity.
This Roadmap can have:
1. Integrate a steering committee ( top management)
Established date for certify, appoint Management Rep.
2. Process Approach: Define Main Processes in your company ( can use de octopus diagram-automotive industry) this processes are Customer Oriented Processes, then internal processes (support, management etc) and all of them make them visible, in other words, Flow diagram ( can use the turtle /flow again for automotive).
3. Once processes are defined, identify the need or having procedures ( make sure to include those mandatory by the standard) and/ work instructions, formats..
4. Gap Analysis
5. Develop Document structure: Quality Policy ( if not previously defined), Quality Manual, Procedures/WI
6. At the same time there is the need for training: Standard, Audit, Writting documentation, etc
7. Schedule: Management Review, Internal Audits (complete system), visits of certification body....
8. Develop a Plan describing activities.

Attached is one example..it might give you an idea.(it´s in spanish)