Quality Systems...Is It Working For You?

Quality Systems...Is your system alive?

  • Yes! It's alive and well. We exceed the standard requirements

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Yes, it's working well. We find it useful.

    Votes: 3 60.0%
  • It's alive and reasonably healthy. Nothing to shout about

    Votes: 1 20.0%
  • It's alive, but not healthy. Is there a doctor around?

    Votes: 1 20.0%
  • It's stone dead. Just a paper front to keep the customers at bay.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    5
  • Poll closed .
E

ezorangee

#1
I have wanted to ask this question for a long time, but it wasn't until I found the Cove that I felt I could get an honest answer. I my work, I get to travel to all the different facilities within our organization who are all registered to either ISO, QS or TS quality system requirements. I am constantly amazed at the fact that though these facilties are registered, I usually manage to show up the week before an assessment when the entire organization is upside down getting "Ready for the audit!"

Here is what I would like to discuss.......If you are registered to a current quality standard, is it a living, breathing part of your organization or is it another customer requirement that you are forced to do?
 
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S

suziwann

#2
Here, unfortunately, it is not a living breathing part of the organisation and as soon as I find something else, I will be off!:mad:

The Quality system here appears to just be a front.
 
E

ezorangee

#3
"It's how I would run a company."

Thank you for being honest! When I was doing my first ISO 9001 implementation, I will always remember a person who had no manufacturing background reading through a copy of ISO9001 and commented. "I don't see what there problem is. If I was running a company, these are all the things that I would do."

I just smiled and said, "That is what I have been trying to tell them."
 
#4
Great question :agree1:
ezorangee said:
If you are registered to a current quality standard, is it a living, breathing part of your organization or is it another customer requirement that you are forced to do?
ISO9001:2000 in our case... Well, yes, I would say it is. Our QMS is definitely alive and sometimes even kicking:

Sometimes it gets so ill that it needs life support, it often makes small mistakes (on occasion horrendous ones), and every now and then it amazes me by performing just the way it should. :eek:

Most of all, it keeps developing and getting better. One example: When I came here, I had to chase people around with a blowtorch to get them to update the written procedures (which they claimed were just a croc anyway), but these days the shoe is on the other foot: Now the very same people are chasing me with updates that must be published asap!

Ergo: The system is in use.

ezorangee said:
I will always remember a person who had no manufacturing background reading through a copy of ISO9001 and commented. "I don't see what there problem is. If I was running a company, these are all the things that I would do."

I just smiled and said, "That is what I have been trying to tell them."
Good point, because that is what it is all about mainly: Common (or maybe uncommon) sense. :agree1:

Added later:I thought this thread deserved a poll and added one :)

/Claes
 
Last edited:
E

ezorangee

#5
I will be interested in the results

Claes.....Thank you for adding the poll. I would have done it but I didn't know how to! I am not that experienced at the Cove. I could go on and on with my frustration. In my case, I am even becoming suspect of the registrar. In practice, the QM, SOP's, work instructions, forms are works of art. In reality, the objective evidence of the system is fragmented (or nonexistent) but I have only once every seen a major nonconformance listed in the fifty facilities that are currently registered within our organization. Believe me, I am as guilty as anyone in this matter.....put the handcuffs on. I will be extremely interested in the results of this poll, and may even use it at our next organizational meeting!
 
#6
ezorangee said:
Claes.....Thank you for adding the poll. I would have done it but I didn't know how to! !
You're welcome. I thought it would make a good poll question :agree1: Anyway, all you need to do to create a poll is to scroll down to Additional Options before you submit your post, and there it is: You can manage attachments, rate the thread, and yes: Post a poll.

ezorangee said:
I will be extremely interested in the results of this poll, and may even use it at our next organizational meeting!
There you are, Cove dwellers: People are interested in your views. Keep posting...

/Claes
 
M

mike101338

#7
New CEO, new objectives here. The last CEO had a figner on the pulse of the company. Quality was the most important item at all times.The new chief is only concerned about quality when something goes wrong or costs us money.
 
M

mike101338

#9
She, and I think you're right. As the system continues to die the problems will become larger and more threatening. It will get everyone's attention. The question is, at what cost?
 
B

Brian Myers

#10
Quality Systems crushed under the pursuit of the $$$

Claes, You missed an option:confused:

"What is a Quality System?! We don't need no stinkin Quality System!"

I work for a company that has been in operation for 50+ years, has grown from a tin shack in the middle of an abandoned Army Munitions Test Range to a $100M Sales Company, moved from no suppliers to suppliers around the world (90% of product comes from China), and from just 3 employees to well over 500. This is a company that "hangs it's hat" on building High-End, High Quality, Hi-Fidelity Speakers for Home and Professional Use. :agree1:

When I started here there was no Quality Group, no quality system, and the working definition of quality was "no defects". In the last 4+ years we (myself and my manager) have begun to grow a Quality System. Talk about painful. I had previously worked in the Auotmotive Industry as a Quality Engineer and started trying to introduce a few of the control concepts as Program Manager (the first 3 years of my career here). After nearly being fired for doing things that were considered "bad business" :caution: and counter to what the COO (my boss at the time) thought was proper :frust:, a number of very hot arguements :argue:, I finally redeemed my soul and volunteered to help organize our Quality Group.

Well, here I am, wondering what is next. The Quality Group (all 2 of us :lol: ) are usually on the verge of being fired, are now expected to work miracles in fixing all of the company's quality issues (bad quality :whip: ), and all the while I can't get even the most basic of systems for product development and quality to be followed.:truce:

Not to mention I am so underpaid I am actively seeking other employment to stave off going broke. :bigwave:

Do you think a Quality System will ever be followed here?!:mad:

Brian
 
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