Overwhelmed, next audit around the corner - Responding to Nonconformances Identified

[danzio]

To everyone: Thank you for all your ideas, thoughts and concerns. What a great bunch to put in the effort to help us out of this mess.

With regards to the missing manual, I have our Quality Manual, what I can not find is the ISO 9001:2000 manual.

I am still waiting to hear from our registrar regarding an extension. Remember she said "I will get right back to you" and that was 2 days ago.

With regards to the NCR's. I will attempt to respond to them and then wait for feedback to use as guidance for the follow-up. I don't suppose there would be any harm if they don't like my initial response would there? I am assuming it would only generate a rejection and I would have to try again.

Again, thanks to all.

 

[little__cee]

Manual

With regards to the missing manual, I have our Quality Manual, what I can not find is the ISO 9001:2000 manual.

Your quality manual was most likely drafted copying the ISO standard, so I wouldn't really worry too much about that. In my experience, most are written that way but others will jump in and correct me if I'm off the mark.

 

[RegistrarGirl]

Hi All,

I am a customer service rep for an international registrar and I hope (pray) that the problem (lack of response) you are having with your registrar's customer service rep.... isn't ours!
The advice given to you by everyone here is excellent and you do have several options.
By attempting to respond to the nonconformances, you are correct, if they are turned down, you can definitely try again. You have a little time to try to do this, since your renewal audit isn't scheduled until September, it might be worth a try. Our company's procedures say that we cannot accept a transfer client from a system with open nonconformances, it would have to be an original registration audit (with the additional manday requirements) not a transfer (where mandays would stay the same). Another good reason why trying to close the NCR's might be very worth it for you.
It also might be a good idea to simply ask for certificate suspension and post-pone your renewal audit, our company allows certificate suspension for 90 days, after 90 days we would require additional audit time be added to the audit (remember...registrars get audited too and we would have to justify why, in the face of serious problems or major changes with a management system that additional audit wasn't added), so that is why the 90 day limit is imposed. Good luck to you and know that you aren't the only company in this situation, it happens!

 

[Craig H.]

With regards to the missing manual, I have our Quality Manual, what I can not find is the ISO 9001:2000 manual.

danzio:

My experience here may be different than others, but are you sure that your Quality Manual is not your ISO 9001:2000 manual? Take a look to see if it doesn't cover the standard. Some Q Manuals will do this point by point, but others don't.

If you have an electronic copy, why not make a copy of it, delete any identifying information that would reveal your company, and post it here? We can tell you pretty quick if that is what you have. You may already be further ahead than you think.

I can't remember ever hearing anyone refer to an ISO 9001 manual as a seperate entity.

 

[Wes Bucey]

danzio:

My experience here may be different than others, but are you sure that your Quality Manual is not your ISO 9001:2000 manual? Take a look to see if it doesn't cover the standard. Some Q Manuals will do this point by point, but others don't.

If you have an electronic copy, why not make a copy of it, delete any identifying information that would reveal your company, and post it here? We can tell you pretty quick if that is what you have. You may already be further ahead than you think.

I can't remember ever hearing anyone refer to an ISO 9001 manual as a seperate entity.

Way back in the "olden days" [1994 version of ISO9001] there were a lot of companies who thought they needed a separate "big honkin' manual" for ISO. We have several threads in the Cove which discuss how to make a document with very few pages and still meet the Standard. It's a real pity more folks don't read and follow the advice freely available here in the Cove on streamlining the Quality Manual and still remain compliant with the Standard.