Quality Systems

Quality Systems - ISO 9001

If you are looking to obtain certification to ISO 9001 or just looking to upgrade your existing Quality Management System our 8 step approach is simple (steps 1-4 for system upgrades):

Step One: Contact PCH Quality System Solutions and arrange for a free consultation.

Step Two: PCH will arrange a site visit to carry out a gap analysis to evaluate current practices against the standard, a report will then be compiled and submitted.

Step Three: A plan will be generated and timescales for completion agreed to fit in with your business requirements.

Step Four: Implementation – draft copies of the required documentation will be designed and produced with the co operation of your staff then reviewed with you and the process owner. Modifications made if required.

Step Five:  Appointment of the right assessment body for your company (BSI, LRQA, DNV).

Step Six:  Arrange the stage 1 assessment (the purpose of this visit is to confirm the readiness of the organisation for full assessment) with the appointed assessment body. Address any findings from the assessment.

Step Seven:  The assessment body will conduct a Stage 2 Assessment (the purpose of this visit is to confirm that the quality management system fully conforms to the requirements of ISO 9001 in practice) once this is complete and successful certification is granted. This will then be followed up by a yearly compliance audit usually 1 day duration.

Step Eight: PCH will conduct a close out meeting and agree on any maintenance visits if required.

Awareness and communication to all your staff is paramount when changing existing systems or going for certification. PCH will provide good communication techniques to ensure all your staff fully understand and have a good awareness of the system and where to locate all the documentation.

What would be the benefits of achieving ISO 9001 certification?

Having ISO9001 will make your business easier to manage, implemented and maintained properly it will improve the performance of your business in meeting and fulfilling the requirements of your customers and cut operational costs making your business more efficient.

It will open up new avenues for your business in attracting new customers whereas before you might not have been successful in winning the business.

What is ISO 9001?

Basically it is an internationally recognised standard, setting out a framework (Quality Management System) and series of guidelines / principles  that a company must comply with to ensure that their customer requirements are fully satisfied, on time and every time.

So what is a Quality Management System?

It is “A system to establish policy and objectives and achieve those objectives with regard to Quality”.

It is not simply a system for assuring quality but also for setting direction, targets and to achieve those targets.

What are the key elements of a Quality Management System?

The following principles must be very evident within any successful Quality management System:

1) Customer Focus – Businesses depend on their customers they should therefore fully understand their current and future needs. Businesses should ensure they fully understand and exceed their customers needs.

2) Leadership – A successful Quality Management System will be led from the top down.  Involving every employee within the business knowing their and the companies objectives, and how to achieve them.

3) Involvement of people – Utilisation of all employees abilities at all levels for the benefit of the business.

4) Process Approach – A desired result is achieved more efficiently when activities and resources are managed as a process.

5) System Approach to Management – Identifying and understanding the interaction of processes within the business, resulting in an effective and efficient performance level in relation to the defined objectives.

6) Continual Improvement – A permanent objective of the business should be to continually improve its performance.

7) A Factual Approach to Decision making – Effective decisions must be made based on factual data and the analysis of it.

8) Mutually beneficial Supplier relationships – Clear and mutually beneficial relationships between a business and its suppliers create value.