Re: ISO 9000

[Damien Braniff <Damien_Braniff -at- PAC -dot- CO -dot- UK>]

ISO 9000, strictly speaking, has nothing to do with quality.  It is a
management system which can HELP improve if it is used properly.
Unfortunately, as long as your procedures are in place and you follow them
then you're IN and companies want IN for the wrong reasons - customers say
why haven't you got ISO 9000 etc.

If done properly it can be a very good tool to improve quality.  First of
all you document what you DO - steps in making WIDGET A, purchasing etc.
You then look at these procedures and see where improvements can be made
(eg better layout of parts on production etc) and make changes to the
relevant procedures.  Monitor the process and see if "quality" improves.
If it does see what else can be done etc.  Obviously, over time, nearly all
your procedures will change to varying degrees and the return will diminish
with time.  Quality is/should be an ongoing process.

To work effectively it MUST have committment from senior management and all
staff MUST become involved - if it's writing the procedure for the WIDGET
line then those who work on the line MUST be involved as they best know how
it works and where improvements can be made.

Incentives can be used to get people involved.  Where I work at present
there is a Quality Recognition Letter system where, if somebody makes a
significant contribution to Quality they receive a letter recognising their
efforts.  Then, quarterly, these are examined and a selection given a
Quality Day Out (day off work and money from the company to go bowling or
whatever).

The previous place I worked gave out leather wallets to those who suggest
ways of improving Quality.  If ideas saved money then the instigated got
10% of money saved in the first year up to a maximum of ?500.

Whatever is used to get staff involved they MUST be involved or it won't
work.

Damien Braniff
Technical Author
PAC International