Would ISO 9001 help a small Machine Shop?

[Stijloor]

I went to conduct the 1st surveillance visit on an engineering company who have increased in size from 40-60 employees in the last 6 months and are on course to double their turnover this year.

The term "turnover" is often misinterpreted in the USA. Turnover in the USA is associated with the number or percentage of employees hired and leaving (resigned or fired).

In the UK it means: sales.

Stijloor.

 

[Helmut Jilling]

Start by getting a copy of the ISO 9001:2000 standard and reading it carefully. Better still, take a class.

Better yet, get the ISO 9004:2000 book. It includes the ISO 9001 standard and gives you a lot of good ideas on how to do the things required.

 

[Helmut Jilling]

No, the system is not currently documented. I figured I would have to document all of our accounting/ order proccessing procedures to meet ISO which shouldn't be difficult. What else is there? (in a nutshell)

There is very little a small machine would have to actually document. The better actually would be to plan and develop the system, and as you progress, it will become clear what needs to be documented. (ref cl 4.2.1.d)

 

[Helmut Jilling]

Thank you for all of the responses. Lots of relevant information here.

Assuming a shop has an efficient record keeping process including time spent on jobs, past jobs, current and old material prices, price increases, inventory, invoices etc... how much is involved in gaining certification from ISO?

Where are you located? Seems like a day spent with a consultant to review where you are and get you started would save you a lot of time and money in doing this. Otherwise, you may end up with a system that is not very useful to you.

 

[Colin]

The term "turnover" is often misinterpreted in the USA. Turnover in the USA is associated with the number or percentage of employees hired and leaving (resigned or fired).

In the UK it means: sales.

Stijloor.

Stijloor

Thanks for the clarification, it would not be a great advert for ISO 9001 if interpreted that way!

 

[Coury Ferguson]

The term "turnover" is often misinterpreted in the USA. Turnover in the USA is associated with the number or percentage of employees hired and leaving (resigned or fired).

In the UK it means: sales.

Stijloor.

It can also mean Delivery rate from a Supplier. It really depends on what the context of the sentence it is used in.

 

[Coury Ferguson]

Everyone has provided good information for you, and I hope it has been helpful.

The next step after you have evaluated all of the responses, would be to do a search for implementation of the standard. This has been asked and discussed numerous times for different products or services. Just a suggestion.

 

[Wes Bucey]

Where are you located? Seems like a day spent with a consultant to review where you are and get you started would save you a lot of time and money in doing this. Otherwise, you may end up with a system that is not very useful to you.

I'm pretty sure the OP is located in the very far south suburbs of Chicago - I think they have a growing season almost a month longer than mine up near the Wisconsin border!

Actually not a bad idea, though, to consider a one day "confab" with an expert. If the OP is a member of ASQ Chicago Section 1201, odds are he can find a knowledgeable member close to home who might help out in this regard. If not, he can at least contact the Section Chair and ask for recommendations. That contact info is available from ASQ headquarters in Milwaukee.

This is advice (for contacting a local consultant) which can help almost any company in North America - ASQ will be happy to identify the Section Chair for the area closest to you.