TS 16949 Clause 4.2.2 c - Interaction of Processes - What does this mean?

[Lyndon Diong]

4.2.2 c - Interaction of Processes

4.2.2 states "c) a description of the interaction between the processes of the quality management system." What does this means? Please provide examples if possible.

Can anyone provide me with an example of a Quality Plan? We have Control Plans per the QS-9000. Is that format valid for TS16949? Thank you.

 

[Sam]

"4.2.2 states "c) a description of the interaction between the processes of the quality management system." What does this means? Please provide examples if possible."

- IMO there are two basic methods for showing interaction; the tabular process flow sheet and the process flow chart.
Interaction means; how do the events in one process relate to the events in another process.
Ex. At our company we a dept. called customer service. Customer service receives a customer request, determines if it is a complaint or inquiry, if an inquiry they will answer or direct to another source, if a compliant they will issue an RA. From this point when either decision is directed to someone else (process) it is termed the ?interaction"
You would show links "from and to" your process to the effected process

"Can anyone provide me with an example of a Quality Plan? We have Control Plans per the QS-9000. Is that format valid for TS16949? Thank you."

Refer to page 2 of teh APQP for the requirements for a quality plan. Looks vaguely familiar to element 7 of the TS.
The the control plan is an output of the quality plan and, in IMO, the QS format would be acceptable.

 

[Lyndon Diong]

Thank you Sam. I'm currently reviewing the quality manual. To comply to that statement, what should I put in? ISO9004:2000 introduction page 0.2 contains a model of a process-based quality management system. If I put that into the quality manual, will it sufficiently shows the interaction between the processes of the QMS?

 

[Laura M]

Yes

If you fit your process names (or procedure numbers) into the process model shown in the front of both ISO:9001 and TS, then you would be providing a complete discription of the interaction of YOUR processes, including the measurement process, and management processes that provide the feedback and continual improvement. I have this as a page in the quality manual. Separate from that, I have a matrix that shows exactly which process each measurement is monitoring.

 

[Lyndon Diong]

Thanks. Laura, have you completed the quality manual? I would love to have a copy of it if possible.

 

[Sam]

Lyndon,
As Laura stated you can use the process model shown in the standard. Personnally I don't use it myself. The diagram is meant to show the PDAC cycle of the quality management system.

Jim give the definition of the interaction of a process as the output of one process is the input of another process. This description ia more definitive and IMO a more practical approach.

 

[Sam]

Jim, you are correct. The ISO/TS refers to chapters and that was the intent. As I stated earlier it defines the PDAC characteristic of the ISO/TS quality management.
Your attachment breaks down further that explanation and relates it to a process flow, whiach is a bit easier to understand.

For those using the TS approach, I would suggest starting on page 1 of the APQP manual. The APQP will satisfy the majority of the requirfements listed in element 7 of the TS and will also provide the process flow and interaction you need. A properly completed control plan can also serve as a tabulated process flow.

 

[Lyndon Diong]

I've been reading this thread and also the ISO9000:2000 thread on similar subject but I still do not have sufficient understanding of this requirement to describe the interaction of these processes. What 'processes' in 4.1 refers to? What 'processes' in 4.2.2 refers to?

Under 4.1 note, the processes refers to 'chapters' in Figure 1. If this is the case, then the PDCA model in Fig. 1 should meet the requirements in 4.1b and 4.2.2c.

'ISO9000 for Small Businesses' states that 'The quality manual also has to include an explanation of the interaction between the processes covered by the quality management system and this can be achieved by means of flow charts, schematic representations, a cross-reference matrix, etc.'

I would think if the interaction involve 'processes' other than that in fig 1, then the quality manual would be too cumbersome. And would take me ages to complete.

 

[Sam]

Interactions of processes describes the relationship of the outputs of one process to the inputs of another process. Thai can be described in a process map, or tabular form like a process sheet,i.e., control plan.

Fig 1 relates to to the PDCA cycle for the TS.
Example:
- Plan - Resource Management
- Do - Product realization
- Check - Measurement analysis & Improvement
- Act - Management Responsibility
( This explanation courtesy of AIAG)

Theses four items can be considered customer oriented processes (COP's) as related to the TS specification.

For the organization, the first item on your agenda is to identify your COP's. And yes this is an upper level management team process. Once identified you can insert them in the PDCA cycle. A COP is defined as a "process that the customer has a direct input to and receives a direct output from."
The next step is to identify the support processes for the COP's.
This is two items that is mandatory requirement by your CB, to be submitted for review prior to your site visit.

From the "Checklist to ISO/TS 16949 -
"This chapter intends to clarify that the audit approach of ISO/TS 16949-2000 must not be driven by an "element" or a "section" driven checklist. Instead the checklist shall be a tool to identify the completeness of the audit, which means that the auditor shall audit all applicable requirements to an identified COP."

 

[Douglas E. Purdy]

A Rendering of PDCA - PLUS

This is just a rendering of the PDCA Cycle - Plus. It emphasizes the two related actions: 'verify' the plan before implementing it, and 'validate' the study before acting on the evaluation.