ISO 9001, Not a one size fits all!
What makes an organization great is often its culture and its uniqueness, both of which can be at odds with an industry-wide standard such as ISO 9001. After all, how can a company expect to apply the 131 standardizing requirements (Shalls) and not have its uniqueness or culture impacted? The truth is that they are going to be impacted, but how is up to you.
Organizations new and old to ISO 9001 are often trapped into thinking how they meet the requirements is a one size fits all, but while the requirements of the standard are universal, how you achieve them are not. What works for one company does not always work for another. Additionally, what makes for a good quality management system is not the certification, the paperwork, or even how well their quality management system is maintained. What makes for a truly great quality management system is the value it adds to your unique organization.
If you are implementing the requirements of ISO 9001 or if you are evaluating an existing quality management system it is important to remember you are in control! If something is not adding value to your organization, I encourage you to rethink it, reinterpret it, reshape it, and make it work for you.
Director on QHSE at Profconsult ISM
5 年Yes, ten times Yes
Director on QHSE at Profconsult ISM
5 年The last paragraph is a must?
Retired Quality System Expert
5 年I was refering to what’s expected in a QMS scope as creating value for customers.
Chartered QA guy, keeping it simple, PreKure Eating Recovery Coach too!
5 年IS0 9001 isn't about setting up a QMS, it's about being able to satisfy your customer that you have a system that meets their requirements sufficient to endorse your commitment to supply what you agreed to supply. There isn't one single word in ISO 9001 about satisfying the business expectations of proprietors or their employees and suppliers. There never has been. Check out clause 1 Scope. It follows first that you need a system that does that much at least. My experience of the last 35 years is that most effective systems do much more. Second all you need for the CB and their auditors is a cross reference that lays out the interface between ISO 9001's customer centric requirements and "the way we work around here". Obviously there is no standard approach and, once again, there never has been. IMO, having been knee deep in it at the time, the concept of the standard approach came from the 15-day QMSs spawned by inevitability under the UK National Quality Campaign in the 1980s. It was rubbish then, and still is now. I hope this helps.
QA Manager at ALPLA | Global Leadership PhD Student at Indiana Tech
5 年Shhhh, we’re trying to keep a whole gaggle of consultants in business.