QCS International

After some deliberation the HSE have finally decided to implement changes to First Aid Training Guidance effective from October 2009. (more…)

You may well now have been audited to the new ISO 9001:2008 standard by your Certification Body but what exactly are Certification Bodies looking for and what tangible changes can and should you make to your Quality System?

Okay, the first thing to remember is this… There are no new requirements to ISO 9001:2008… but the standard has introduced a few specific areas that Certification Bodies are asking questions about during their routine visits.

QCS has compiled this insider’s report based on our contacts within Certification Bodies and also from our vast network of customers who have been assessed since the standard was issued in November 2008.

Here are the 8 most common questions…

1. Do you outsource any part of your processes that affect your product or service? How do you control the outsourced supplier?
2. Is the management representative a member of your management team?
3. Has necessary competence been defined for people performing work that affects your product or service?
4. Have you identified product (or service) status with respect to monitoring and measurement requirements throughout product/service delivery (not just at the end)?
5. Does your corrective action procedure ensure that you review each corrective action to ensure it is implemented and is effective (i.e. has fixed the root cause of the issue)?
6. Are you reviewing the effectiveness of each corrective action?
7. Does your preventive action procedure ensure that you review each preventive action to ensure it is implemented and is effective (i.e. will fix the root cause of any potential issue)?
8. Are you reviewing the effectiveness of each preventive action?

So what do you need to do? Well review the list of common questions by all means but if you have been running your system as a genuine business improvement tool then the answer is probably very little.

Other tips to show you have embraced the new standard and made all necessary changes may include:

• Buy a copy of the standard! Yes I know there are few changes but how can you claim compliance to a standard you don’t actually own.
• Review the 2008 standard as part of an internal audit and document the audit to show that you have evaluated any changes.
• Document the transitional review in your Management Review – it’s a great way to show the management team are keeping up to speed with the changes – however small the changes are.

I’m sure you are aware that Swine Flu has been declared a Pandemic…but what next? Face masks at the next team meeting? Well not quite.

First issue a policy to all staff that if they start to develop ‘flu-like’ symptoms, they should seek medical attention and not come into work.

Don’t forget that if you run an ISO 9001 system it is all about business planning, ensuring correct resourcing and preventive action.

I’m not suggesting that you will get a non conformity for failing to plan for Swine Flue, but in this highly competitive climate we find ourselves in, you should use your quality system (and business continuity system if you have one) to make sure you can operate your company effectively and safely in the event of increased absence due to swine flu.

Would for instance, levels of supervision or certain skills mean that your business could not operate? Worst case could service level contracts or product quality suffer because of increased absence levels.

By making simple plans in advance it may be possible to minimise the effect of this Pandemic on your business.

For more information on business continuity go to the following link from ‘Business Link’ Swine flu – make sure your business is ready or if you want more information regarding Swine Flu precautions the HSE web site is pack with useful information… Swine flu – HSE

Our last post dealt with the increase in the last few months of ISO 14001 and how businesses are using this to gain a competitive advantage. QCS has installed many ISO 14001 compliant systems over the years and there is one tip we always give to anyone…Know your aspects.

It may sound simple but we see consultants and industry experts alike forgetting this part and jumping head long into policy, objectives and system manuals.

My point is this, how can you…

• Write a policy
• Gain Senior management commitment
• Write a system manual
• Set objectives
• Identify applicable legislation

without knowing how you interact with the environment?

Don’t forget that an ISO 14001 system is about systematically managing your aspects to improve environmental performance – it is not just about having a great system.

Early indications show that forward thinking organisations are turning to ISO 14001 for the competitive edge during the economic down turn… (more…)