shocked by the light said:
We are a small industrial tape manufacture trying to implement ISO 9000. As a result of several discussions, I have been asked to find out how other small companies do it.
It refers to 2 specific areas, RFQ's and job tickets/travelers. If anyone would be willing to share 2-3 examples of both of these areas I would certainly appreciate it. I would be interested in the flow and forms.
Thanks in advance...
CarolX said:
Hi shocked by the light and Welcome to the Cove!
RFQ's and job tickets/travelers are usually pretty specific to each company. I don't have any examples I can provide because they would mean nothing to anyone outside of our company.
Have you tried looking into pre-printed forms from a company that specializes in forms? There used to be one called Moore Business Forms and they had just about every type of generic form ever used.
Yes! Don't get bogged down in making a big magilla out of having a forest cut down just so you can ask for a quote from a supplier or give a quote to a prospective customer.
I've found the internet has helped many organizations get out of the multiple copy NCR
(National Cash Register carbonless forms) rigamarole. If you want a quote on something, odds are the supplier has an email address or a web-based form to ask for one.
Similarly, customers usually want quotes (especially for off-the shelf or semi custom products) ASAP. They don't want to wait for a snail mail delivery.
Pretty much the same thing goes for purchase orders.
Job tickets or "travelers" often are merely extensions of an incoming purchase order with attachments to assure workers will meet the customer's requirements. Travelers are expecially valuable when a specific product may have alternate paths through a manufacturing system. Think of an order for an automobile: the traveler describes which basic model, what options to install, what color paint and upholstery, etc.
Similarly, for tape, the traveler might dictate color, quantity, width, adhesive, printing, special packaging. Think of it being similar to an order picker's sheet for all off-the-shelf products. The ideal situation is to have a grid with space for all the possible permutations and/or special instructions which reflects the customer requirements. As the order flows through the manufacturing process, each work station deals with the appropriate section of the grid, which acts as a "fail safe" before final shipment to assure ALL customer requirements have been met.
Do not fall into the trap many small organizations have by trying to emulate the paperwork morass of a giant corporation. ISO has a guideline:
Guidance on the Documentation Requirements of ISO 9001:2000
(available here: http://isotc.iso.org/livelink/livelink/fetch/2000/2122/138402/755901/1069636/customview.html?func=ll&objId=1069636&objAction=browse&sort=name)
which contains this advice:
It must be stressed that, according to ISO 9001:2000 clause 4.2 Documentation requirements documents may be in any form or type of medium, and the definition of "document" in ISO 9000:2000 clause 3.7.2 gives the following examples:
- paper
- magnetic
- electronic or optical computer disc
- photograph
- master sample
and this:
- Other organizations may require additional procedures, but the size and/or culture of the organization could enable these to be effectively implemented without necessarily being documented. However, in order to demonstrate compliance with ISO 9001:2000, the organization has to be able to provide objective evidence (not necessarily documented) that its QMS has been effectively implemented.
and this
There are several requirements of ISO 9001:2000 where an organization could add value to its QMS and demonstrate conformity by the preparation of other documents, even though the standard does not specifically require them. Examples may include:
- Process maps, process flow charts and/or process descriptions
- Organization charts
- Specifications
- Work and/or test instructions
- Documents containing internal communications
- Production schedules
- Approved supplier lists
- Test and inspection plans
- Quality plans
Travelers would probably be considered under "internal communications" since they are intended for use within the organization by its employees.
Welcome to the Cove!
I hope this gives you a little perspective on NOT being a slave to ISO rules, but using them to help your organization run an efficient operation without overburdening yourselves with unnecessary worries about the EXACT FORM of documentation. The important thing is that the documentation serve the needs of YOUR organization, NOT be a clone of some other organization's methods.
