Quality Newsletters - Are They Worth It?

[TacitBlue]

Is it worthwhile to create and distribute a quality newsletter to our employees about topics and issues related to our QMS? Do people actually read and anticipate such newsletters?

 

[Jim Wynne]

Is it worthwhile to create and distribute a quality newsletter to our employees about topics and issues related to our QMS? Do people actually read and anticipate such newsletters?

In my experience, they aren't generally worth the effort expended in producing them.

 

[Randy]

Seriously? They'd probably be more interested in reading Modern Horticulture Digest or the Gobi Desert Times.

 

[Cari Spears]

It's not a newsletter, but we recently started a trivia question thing at our company. On Monday, a trivia question about the QMS, safety, ITAR, etc. is sent out; the answers are due that Friday. Anyone who submits an answer is entered into a drawing for a prize that we're going to do quarterly - the more answers they submit, the more chances they have - the answer does not have to be correct to be entered. The point is not so much that they answer the question correctly, but that they know where to go for the answer. So there is the question, and then a hint - the hint is actually exactly where to find the answer, because we're not trying to stump them.

So for example - here are the first few QMS questions we sent out:

How do you know if you are using the most current revision of controlled documents and forms?
HINT: MDL-1 Master Document List in P:\MASTER DOCUMENTS

Where is nonconforming product recorded?
HINT: MT.PR.12 Control of Nonconforming Product – Sections 3.1.1 & 3.1.4 in P:\MASTER DOCUMENTS\Procedures

What are the company’s four core processes?
HINT: QPM-2-8 Process Interaction – Slide QPM-4 in P:\MASTER DOCUMENTS\Policy Manual

 

[Ron Rompen]

Cari: Your idea for getting the employees involved/interacting is a good one. My experience has been that if it is 'just' a newsletter, then it is usually a waste of time and resources. Those who are INTERESTED in the QMS and its performance already know the answers....the rest don't really care. They are more interested in when the coffee maker is going to be replaced, or when the next company BBQ is scheduled.

 

[Dazzur]

Cari: Your idea for getting the employees involved/interacting is a good one. My experience has been that if it is 'just' a newsletter, then it is usually a waste of time and resources. Those who are INTERESTED in the QMS and its performance already know the answers....the rest don't really care. They are more interested in when the coffee maker is going to be replaced, or when the next company BBQ is scheduled.

The organisation I work for has several welding processes and the experienced welders couldn't care less about any QMS, even openly mocking it and disregarding any requirements. it comes as a cost to the QMS as the organisation values their expertise heavily and just takes a hit on the QA side of things as far as these guys are concerned.

 

[TacitBlue]

Thanks, all. I think I have my answer. I really appreciate your feedback.

 

[Miner]

I would say it depends a lot on the purpose and content of the newsletter. If it is just a "Rah rah rah!" newsletter, or a chastisement to do better, it is definitely a waste of time. However, if the purpose is for communication and recognition, then it can be very good.

My company is very global, and the quality organization is structured around quality specialties (e.g., supplier quality, new product quality, post-release quality, operations quality, etc.), so the newsletter helps the various groups understand what is happening in other specialties, regions, etc. It is also used to recognize new people, promotions, thanks for going above and beyond to help, etc. It also announces upcoming changes or events. The feedback has been very good on it.

 

[Cari Spears]

Cari: Your idea for getting the employees involved/interacting is a good one. My experience has been that if it is 'just' a newsletter, then it is usually a waste of time and resources. Those who are INTERESTED in the QMS and its performance already know the answers....the rest don't really care. They are more interested in when the coffee maker is going to be replaced, or when the next company BBQ is scheduled.

Actually, my idea was for a quick "the more you know" type of informational thing each week. My boss is the one who came up with the idea of turning it into the trivia question to promote the employee involvement. It's getting mixed reviews out on the floor, but a lot of people are participating.

 

[TheSouthernDandy]

We have flirted with this idea in the past in many forms: Part of a site-wide monthly meeting, a separate emailed newsletter, a bulletin board. They have all fallen by the wayside except for an occasional quality contact at the monthly meeting. I couldn't point to any improvement in quality that came from these.