Starting a Quality Control Program and writing a Quality Control Manual

[ftbrubio]

I have a small welding and fabrication shop, I have a CNC plasma table that I operated also. I am currently trying to obtain some yearlong burning work for my table, but the company wants me to put a Quality Control Manual together.

My problem is I dont know were to start or how to write one. My question is can anyone point me in direction on getting assistance on putting one together. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Boscoeee]

Re: Starting a Quality Control Program

I would be glad to help you what industry do you currently support?

 

[Golfman25]

Re: Starting a Quality Control Program

Look to your local manufacturing trade organization or local community college. They may have a peer group of sorts who can share resources to work up an ISO based quality control program. Good luck.

 

[duck5]

I am willing to help you on this also.

 

[Marc]

I am willing to help you on this also. <edited out content>

We prefer that folks, especially new folks like you, try to help people here in the forum.

Since you have so few posts here there is no way to ascertain your knowledge level and credibility. Helping people here will diminish or eliminate those issues.

Thanks,

Marc

 

[John Broomfield]

I have a small welding and fabrication shop, I have a CNC plasma table that I operated also. I am currently trying to obtain some yearlong burning work for my table, but the company wants me to put a Quality Control Manual together.

My problem is I dont know were to start or how to write one. My question is can anyone point me in direction on getting assistance on putting one together. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

ftbrubio,

Describe (a sentence or three) what you actually do to:

1. Focus on customer needs and your ongoing ability to fulfill them
2. Remain an expert in what you do and the equipment you use
3. Maintain your CNC Plasma Table as good as or better than new
4. Calibrate measuring devices that affect quality (traceable to national standards)
5. Maintain current documents and historical files
6. Select suppliers you can count on
7. Select, train and engage employees you can count on*
8. Understand each customer's requirements
9. Make commitments (promises) to fulfill requirements
10. Document and agree the product acceptance criteria (spec)
11. Verify incoming metal (and control any nonconforming metal)
12. Set-up each cutting job
13. Verify the set-ups
14. Cut the metal to fulfill the acceptance criteria
15. Verify conformity (and certify conformity if required)
16. Deliver cut metal on time
17. Invoice accurately for prompt payment
18. Obtain customer feedback (and keep them informed)
19. Stop recurrence of costly problems
20. Review performance and invest in improvements

Do not make your manual a work of fiction.

*add later if you choose to grow.

Good luck,

John

 

[Vickid2]

A quality manual states:

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The scope of your business,

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The quality policy and objectives,

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How you manage your production process (start with a ,flow diagram or just a list on a pad of paper to define the sequence of your processes and

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Most importantly, how you are going to monitor the performance of your processes in order to ensure the customer receives quality product.

ISO 9001 is an excellent source for a quality program. The simpler you make it the better.

Business Management System Consulting works solely with machine shops and has a very simple one page manual. I am not affiliated with this site at all, but I do know they specialize in machine shops.

 

[Randy Lefferts]

I have a small welding and fabrication shop, I have a CNC plasma table that I operated also. I am currently trying to obtain some yearlong burning work for my table, but the company wants me to put a Quality Control Manual together.

My problem is I dont know were to start or how to write one. My question is can anyone point me in direction on getting assistance on putting one together. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Are you unsure what a quality manual looks like? They take different shapes and are unique to the individual business. Your quality policy, objectives and such as well as your processes are going to be different than another company although parts may resemble a similar business.

Others have mentioned may go in a Quality Manual. So that is a start. If you are unsure of what a Quality Manual "may" look like, you can search for examples, if that is what needed to help you get the thoughts flowing.

Example Quality Manuals

Just remember, a Quality Manual will reflect your organization. So while looking at these examples may help get ideas going, you still need to write the manual to work for you. You won't find (very unlikely anyway) a Quality Manual that will really reflect your organization from this list. It should just serve to get your ideas forming.

 

[Vickid2]

Excellent reply Randy. The manual will reflect the image of the company. One way to see a real quality manual is to search in Google for "machine shop quality manual" I just found 8 manuals.

 

[ftbrubio]

Re: Starting a Quality Control Program

Thanks everyone for the replies. I have been researching some manuls online, that is how I came upon the Elsmar Cove website. Mr. Fulwood, I mainly work in the oilfield and gas industry. I do have some experince in welding quality control. However, I have never tryed writing one. The few places that I have worked had quality control programs in place and I had to follow and implement what was already in place.