Using Exact Words from ISO 9001:2008 in Level 1 Document (Quality Assurance Manual)

[Helmut Jilling]

Re: Using Exact Words from ISO 9001:2008 in Level 1 Document (Quality Assurance Manua

refractoryman,

Great, you are seeking to inform top management of the requirements. A workshop is probably the best way of doing this so they can ask questions and receive answers specific to their company.

You could start by working with them to understand how the company works to determine customer needs, fulfill those needs and receive prompt payment. This is the core of their management system and the manual that describes this system. Of course, the manual will show the sequence and interaction of the processes in their system and it will refer to the document procedures.

Reassure them that in order to conform to the standard all they need to do is develop an appreciation for their management system by:

1. Establishing their policy and objectives
2. Resourcing the system development project
3. Authorizing the process owners
4. Living their policy themselves
5. Engaging employees in their use of the system
6. Engaging the employees in their improvement of processes
7. Resourcing approved improvements
8. Explaining their management system to the employees
9. Monitoring processes
10. Supporting audit and continual improvement
11. Reviewing and improving the performance of their system

I doubt these essential actions will come from them reading any manual.

But you could ask them if they'd like a manual or webpage to sell the value of their management system to customers and employees.

John

This is all good John, but, I still use a modified version of the ISO 9004:2000 standard as a quality manual. It has a lot of great content. I rewrote it, paraphrased and improved the language, simplified and enhanced the content, clarified the meaning, and cleaned it up. Then for each client I modify the template, take out unneeded content, and enhance certain parts to suit their business.

My point is, I WANT my managers to know the requirements, And I certainly want to expose them to the 9004 standard. I can't always get them to sit for a lot of training. But I can give them a Helmut modified manual that explains whatever I feel they need.

So far, I think it works well......

 

[John Broomfield]

Re: Using Exact Words from ISO 9001:2008 in Level 1 Document (Quality Assurance Manua

This is all good John, but, I still use a modified version of the ISO 9004:2000 standard as a quality manual. It has a lot of great content. I rewrote it, paraphrased and improved the language, simplified and enhanced the content, clarified the meaning, and cleaned it up. Then for each client I modify the template, take out unneeded content, and enhance certain parts to suit their business.

My point is, I WANT my managers to know the requirements, And I certainly want to expose them to the 9004 standard. I can't always get them to sit for a lot of training. But I can give them a Helmut modified manual that explains whatever I feel they need.

So far, I think it works well......

Helmut,

Yes, I'm a fan of ISO 9004 too. I can see how its more descriptive, less contractual language provides a better starting point than ISO 9001.

Just to clarify, does your rewrite:

• Educate managers on quality management for sustainability, or
• Describe how the actual management system governs the organization?

How many pages?

Thanks,

John

 

[John Broomfield]

Re: Using Exact Words from ISO 9001:2008 in Level 1 Document (Quality Assurance Manua

Well, in that case, you might want to see info regarding the requirements of quality manuals in 9001:2015.

Mikishots,

Yes, deciding for ourselves on the value of a document that simply describes how the organizational management system results in more successful stakeholders may result in better "quality manuals".

John

 

[Helmut Jilling]

Re: Using Exact Words from ISO 9001:2008 in Level 1 Document (Quality Assurance Manua

Helmut,

Yes, I'm a fan of ISO 9004 too. I can see how its more descriptive, less contractual language provides a better starting point than ISO 9001.

Just to clarify, does your rewrite:

• Educate managers on quality management for sustainability, or
• Describe how the actual management system governs the organization?

How many pages?

Thanks,

John

I wish my quality manual would magically cause all management teams to become wonderful, agents of change, oriented toward Sustainability, etc....but we both know a manual won't do all that.

Instead, I settle for showing the requirements (because managers need to know them), but I improve and clarify the language (making it so even managers can understand it ), I add some of the concepts from 9004, because they are good information. Anything more than that, I try to teach the clients, show them examples, help them implement to a higher level. Most importantly, I work with them to make the manual and system relevant, beneficial, and help them see the value.

In all of that, the manual is just part of the system. But, the number of pages is irrelevant....it is an electronic store of knowledge and guidance. It is however many pages it ends up being... I don't count pages, I focus on content and results. So far, that is working well.