Rob Nix said:
Anyway, We do our best to not use the terms ISO, QS, Quality System, or anything of that nature with anyone in the business. It is my job to make sure that the requirements of the standards (QS/TE and ISO9K2K) are met. To everyone else we simply have our own Business Management System. It is the way we operate. We maintain it. We improve it. Period. They are educated on how we run our business here.
When people sometimes make reference to "the ISO standard", I just tell them that OUR system conforms to it, but they are operating under OUR system - not ISO. FWIW.
Rob, You don't know how MUCH I agree with this. I have been in this business now since 1989 and I can't tell you how many organizations I have seen referring to the ISO procedures, the ISO Manual, The ISO this and ISO that.
This might seem trivial, but it is not. IMO this has profound consequences. Congratulations for spreading the word. Keeping referring to the pieces of a QMS as ISO this and that promotes the concept that it is something artificial, outside of their expected business processes.
In my experience, organizations that succeed in implementing all of these management system standards are the ones that simply "operationalize" the requirements within their daily tasks, without creating artificial, non-value added activities.
rg. As an idiot, it was highly beneficial to me in relating to ISO in general. While many details may not be related to your industry, it gives employees an understanding of just how important ISO is, as it not only relates to their current industry, but in everyday life. For example, I had no idea that ISO standards relate to child resistant packaging, PIN (personal identification number), VIN (vehicle identification number) and more.
