I
Ingeniero1
Hello everyone,
Although I read these forums on a regular basis, it has been a while since I submitted a post.
To refresh your memories, we successfully became registered in August of 2004, and have been audited (continual assessment) by BSI twice since then. So far we have had no non-conformances of any kind.
As anticipated, we have improved our posture in the market segment we serve, and a number of (new) customers have started doing business with us because of the registration. Although the impact has not been overwhelming yet, it has been welcome.
However, we have benefited in ways that we did not expect.
• Focus on the customer, although previously considered important, is now paramount to everyone.
• Everyone has become keenly aware of the impact that each has on product quality.
• Documenting procedures, instructions, training, and other processes have become habit and everyone contributes willingly.
• Cooperation also is seen under a new light, and everyone has joined the cause to make things better.
• When asked what ISO 9001:2000 means to them, some of our employees have given quite revealing replies.
- “It has given Customer Service and Quality totally different perspectives. They now are high on a pedestal, which is where they really belong.”
- “It has made me look at what we do more carefully. I find double-checking my work all the time.”
• Believe it or not, ISO 9001:2000 is used by many to justify or to add credibility to anything that they want to do to improve our processes and products. Sometimes, the improvements have nothing to do with ISO 9001:2000 per se, but people have found that saying that the change would “be good for ISO” goes a long way in getting the changes approved and implemented.
• From the line operator to the president, ISO 9001:2000 has provided the incentive and the reason to do things the way we wanted to do them anyway, but somehow had never gotten around to it.
Yes, ISO 9001:2000 has had a very positive impact.
Alex
BTW, I am no longer an Independent Contractor here; instead, I was hired as a permanent employee - "Process Development Manager"
Although I read these forums on a regular basis, it has been a while since I submitted a post.
To refresh your memories, we successfully became registered in August of 2004, and have been audited (continual assessment) by BSI twice since then. So far we have had no non-conformances of any kind.
As anticipated, we have improved our posture in the market segment we serve, and a number of (new) customers have started doing business with us because of the registration. Although the impact has not been overwhelming yet, it has been welcome.
However, we have benefited in ways that we did not expect.
• Focus on the customer, although previously considered important, is now paramount to everyone.
• Everyone has become keenly aware of the impact that each has on product quality.
• Documenting procedures, instructions, training, and other processes have become habit and everyone contributes willingly.
• Cooperation also is seen under a new light, and everyone has joined the cause to make things better.
• When asked what ISO 9001:2000 means to them, some of our employees have given quite revealing replies.
- “It has given Customer Service and Quality totally different perspectives. They now are high on a pedestal, which is where they really belong.”
- “It has made me look at what we do more carefully. I find double-checking my work all the time.”
• Believe it or not, ISO 9001:2000 is used by many to justify or to add credibility to anything that they want to do to improve our processes and products. Sometimes, the improvements have nothing to do with ISO 9001:2000 per se, but people have found that saying that the change would “be good for ISO” goes a long way in getting the changes approved and implemented.
• From the line operator to the president, ISO 9001:2000 has provided the incentive and the reason to do things the way we wanted to do them anyway, but somehow had never gotten around to it.
Yes, ISO 9001:2000 has had a very positive impact.
Alex
BTW, I am no longer an Independent Contractor here; instead, I was hired as a permanent employee - "Process Development Manager"
/Claes
