QMS (Quality Management System) Manual - The Boss Wants a 4 Page Manual - What to Do?

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Four pages?! It might be possible if you use the smallest font imaginable & 11x17 sheets of paper...

Hello Lori, and welcome to the Cove

Actually, you don't have to go to such extremes. Our Manual is all of seven pages, covering not only Quality, but also Environment & H&S as well as policies.

ISO9001:2000, clause 4.2.2b allows you to refer to the documented procedures rather than including them in the manual. That leaves scope and interaction of processes...

Disclaimer: That kind of slim manual suits our needs, but does not necessarily suit others... For instance, many small companies choose to include all documented procedures in the manual and have nothing more. Both extremes are perfectly acceptable as far as the requirements in the standard are concened.

It is your manual.

/Claes

 

[Mustang]

It's very possible...

Four pages?! It might be possible if you use the smallest font imaginable & 11x17 sheets of paper...

I did it on one two-sided 8.5"x14" (legal size) sheet folded like a brochure, 10-pt text...
Here are the details:

TS-16949 Requirements and location in our manual:
4.2.2 Quality Manual
a. Scope - right column on page 1 (front flap when folded), Exclusions - bottome line on page 2 (inside page when folded)
b. documented procedures - referenced on page 2
c. Interaction of processes - page 2 (master overview flowchart of all processes and required procedures)

I also cover one of 4.2.1 General Documentation Requirements
a. Quality Policy and Objectives - left column on page 1 (inside flap when folded)

I have also included a brief history of the company (center column on page 1, back when folded), therefore making the document a little more personal, as well as a tool for sales

We have been recommended for TS16949 certification, so it has passed muster...

 

[Lori_C]

Our manual is an electronic manual. Basically, we have a main (home) page that has links to all policies, procedures, forms, flow charts etc. If I were to print it all out, it would be nearly 100 pages.
I like the idea of a brochure format though.
Thanks for the replies - I'm enlightened.

 

[Mustang]

Me too...

Our manual is an electronic manual. Basically, we have a main (home) page that has links to all policies, procedures, forms, flow charts etc. If I were to print it all out, it would be nearly 100 pages.
I like the idea of a brochure format though.
Thanks for the replies - I'm enlightened.

What I described was our "Quality Manual" as required by ISO/TS... I also have the master process flow as an electronic image on our intranet, and all someone has to do is click on the box that represents the process and the individual process map opens. Then I have a master document index on the intranet that contains all forms and work instructions, which is searchable (by number, type or title) and linked to the document itself. Mine would be well over 100 pages if everything were printed out (and old management used to require it....). The nice thing is, the requirement has few necessary items, so the actual "manual" can be done simply and efficiently. There is nothing that states everything else needs to be included. That is simply a business choice a company would make if it works for them. I have structured our system to not need all of that detail in printed format, just the basic stuff. It's useful that way (the brochure) when customers ask for a copy, which they sometimes do. We did at one point include everything, but it caused "information overload", where there was so much stuff, no one would look for what they needed in it.

If you have any questions about what I've done, please let me know.

 

[Wes Bucey]

What I described was our "Quality Manual" as required by ISO/TS... I also have the master process flow as an electronic image on our intranet, and all someone has to do is click on the box that represents the process and the individual process map opens. Then I have a master document index on the intranet that contains all forms and work instructions, which is searchable (by number, type or title) and linked to the document itself. Mine would be well over 100 pages if everything were printed out (and old management used to require it....). The nice thing is, the requirement has few necessary items, so the actual "manual" can be done simply and efficiently. There is nothing that states everything else needs to be included. That is simply a business choice a company would make if it works for them. I have structured our system to not need all of that detail in printed format, just the basic stuff. It's useful that way (the brochure) when customers ask for a copy, which they sometimes do. We did at one point include everything, but it caused "information overload", where there was so much stuff, no one would look for what they needed in it.

If you have any questions about what I've done, please let me know.

All this makes perfect sense under the current interpretations of ISO9k2k - which emphasizes "customer-centric" and adaptability to conditions.

Here is a direct quote from the opening paragraph of ISO9001:2000. The bold face blue print emphasis is mine.

Introduction

0.1 General


The adoption of a quality management system should be a strategic decision of an organization. The design and implementation of an organization’s quality management system is influenced by varying needs, particular objectives, the products provided, the processes employed and the size and structure of the organization. It is not the intent of this International Standard to imply uniformity in the structure of quality management systems or uniformity of documentation.

 

[Mustang]

Exactly

Now it seems that some Registrar Auditors need to be reminded of this...

 

[Quality101]

QS Manual

I just got back from ISO/TS16949 Class at AIAG.

Our manual will be 1 page.

Go ahead ask me how.

 

[Mustang]

Ok..

I'll bite....

How?

 

[Quality101]

1 Page Quality Manual

Under 4.2.2 There are only 3 requirements for the Quality Manual

The organization SHALL establish and maintain a quality manual that includes

* a) the scope of the quality management system, including details of and justification for any exclusions. (exclusions would be product design, or maybe service.)

* b) the documented procedures established for the quality management system, or reference to them, and (Process map, with supporting processes-if you would like a sample let me know)

* c) description of the interactions between the processes of the quality management system. (That would be your supporting processes- It does not say to to define each interaction.)

Think outside the box (This is nothing like QS - Do not read more into it then what is there. If you have a matrix that is well self explanatory it can also be your procedure.)


Our quality manual will be a poster hung several places in the plant. The big book idea for us is over! Will be doing matrix, turtle diagrams and posters for the whole requirments.

If anyone gets a chance to take the QS to TS transition class with AIAG it was well worth it!!!!!!

 

[Mustang]

Oh...

So it's a poster. That works. Mine is one two-sided sheet, but I have a little extra fluff in for sales' use. I used a bulletin board in the plant to display the turtles and their interactions, so we are on the same track, I think. Good work!