How much staff input into the QMS is expected?

[BlueBug]

I’m fairly new to my current position and have taken over as QM. I used to work in a very small company (ISO9001) however, this company is significantly bigger. But, I am having no interaction with management or staff. My last company was very interactive. There are no SMART Quality objectives and no input from the staff whose work falls under scope. For example, there has been no input regarding non conformances or corrective actions to the quality system for over 6 months. I have literally no idea what is going on within the teams. Senior management do not communicate at all and there is no participation in our procedures (ie Assessing new suppliers – they just use whoever they want). I have raised this with my line manager but, 2 weeks later, I am still waiting for them to read the email (let alone reply). However, I am not ‘allowed’ to communicate directly with senior management, have no idea who are customers are and line managers have refused to ‘allow’ me to communicate with their teams on procedures, quality updates, requests etc.
I am concerned that by the time we get to our annual audit, we will fail. But worse, I will be the scapegoat for the failure despite putting the framework in place and encouraging participation and it will go on my record as a failure. It is really demotivating.
Based on your own experiences, what do you suggest?
Thank you
*Shattered dreams*

 

[Sidney Vianna]

You are being setup for failure, OBVIOUSLY

So my quality management position is being marginalized by my job.

Leadership Attributes - Getting buy-in on Quality from other functions

What can you do if Quality is treated as a separate function in an organization?

good luck in finding a rewarding job.

 

[Ed Panek]

If you suspect failure is approaching I would look for another job if there is no involvement of top management.

 

[Randy]

Pick this up as a hobby and use it fast to get out of there

 

[BlueBug]

oh...hmm.....i thought it was just me expecting too much.
Thank you for your input. I don't like bailing but I guess the high staff turnover also suggest rats on a sinking ship. (Never thought I'd see myself as a rat....)

Luckily I have been offered another position elsewhere....
Hopefully i'll have some positive posts in the future!!

 

[Sidney Vianna]

(Never thought I'd see myself as a rat....)

You don't sound as one, either. The false analogy of rats being the first to abandon a sinking ship doesn't apply. Rats flee the vessel because the flooding waters dislodge them. They don't have the consciousness of the impending disaster; they are just reacting to the water invading the lower decks, where they normally inhabit. People, on the other hand, are conscious beings , aware of the surrounding context and able to discern the likely consequences and should not wait until the ship sinks before evacuating.

 

[Jeroki]

Sometimes it feels better to have a psychology carrer than a deep technical/professional knowledge!!

According to your comments, it seems pretty difficult to modify that quality culture they have... Ni anyway, I would suggest you to go step by step.

You indicate some sad things as following: "there has been no input regarding non conformances or corrective actions to the quality system for over 6 months", "and line managers have refused to ‘allow’ me to communicate with their teams on procedures, quality updates, requests etc"

I would suggest you thing to put yourself in their shoes. These guys may see your position as " the typical annoying guy who just want me and my team to make loads of paperwork to avoid having any problems in those audits he has but whose actual value/benefit is none at all". You must try to proff them in some kind of numeric value that these Quality activities will bring back benefit. I would start with some corrective action from some claim which had led to huge spends of money. As you are able to make them see the importance of this , start with "less non-profitable visible actions", as the change of some standard.

Of course, we are human beings, and if someone doesn't want to listen he wont listen, but at least try to do everything you can, so once you leave this "toxic place" you feel you did your best and that the failure was theirs, not yours