S
We had our annual Management Review meeting recently as required by ISO 13485/9001. The MD raised a requirement for efficiency targets i.e. in all departments including Quality. Now we are a small medical device company (less than 30 people on site) and I guess our quality systems are pretty much ‘mature’ (according to our auditors anyway!). I am the only Quality Assurance person (Manager) and apart from giving myself a good stern talking to, I am a little lost in how to set meaningful targets or measuring my efficiency (or otherwise). Apparently the efficiencies should lead to cost savings i.e. the main driver for this exercise – so I suppose I could sack myself (main QA cost being my salary, plus using stationary and purchasing the odd Standard from time to time)!
Obviously I try to have preventative (and corrective) actions in place to stop any costs relating to potential quality issues – such as reducing defects, complaints, returns etc. However, these are often outside my direct control e.g. the customer orders the wrong item (Sales Department), they have tampered with a device (Customer), our courier decides to have a head on crash thus causing some transit damage (Production/Dispatch), item costs too much (Purchasing Department), customer does not like the colour of the device (Design Department) or they were overcharged (Accounts).
Using less paper and printer ink might save a few bob in my case– any other money saving ideas through efficiencies for a Medical Device QA Department (Manager)?
Steve
Obviously I try to have preventative (and corrective) actions in place to stop any costs relating to potential quality issues – such as reducing defects, complaints, returns etc. However, these are often outside my direct control e.g. the customer orders the wrong item (Sales Department), they have tampered with a device (Customer), our courier decides to have a head on crash thus causing some transit damage (Production/Dispatch), item costs too much (Purchasing Department), customer does not like the colour of the device (Design Department) or they were overcharged (Accounts).
Using less paper and printer ink might save a few bob in my case– any other money saving ideas through efficiencies for a Medical Device QA Department (Manager)?
Steve