The Farmer and the StorkThe wisdom of Aesop
Tue, 04/08/2008 - 22:00
A farmer was experiencing a serious problem with cranes eating his seed, so he decided to cast a net upon his fields in an attempt to capture the cranes. Along with the cranes, he snared a stork. The stork pleaded for his life saying, "Honorable… Fortune-Telling RequirementsFor every action, there’s a reaction
Tue, 03/11/2008 - 22:00
Recently I became aware that the ISO 9001 requirements pertaining to preventive action are sometimes referred to as the “fortune-telling clause.” The deprecating implication is that attempting to implement preventive actions is as silly as relying… Do We Have To?Are you <i>sure?</i>
Tue, 02/12/2008 - 22:00
Every once in a while, when I’m doing an audit someone will ask me—in a whiney voice—about some ISO 9001 requirement. The whine sounds something like, “Do we really have to ________?” Fill in the blank with any of a number of “shalls” from the… When Will It Be Over?Continual improvement is forever
Tue, 01/08/2008 - 22:00
There’s a great scene in The Agony and the Ecstasy where Pope Julius, played by Rex Harrison, reacts to the paint dribbles from Michelangelo’s perpetual work on the Sistine Chapel. He’s processing out of the chapel after Mass and Charlton Heston, in… They’re Everywhere, They’re Everywhere!Documents and evidence, that is
Tue, 12/11/2007 - 22:00
Many of us quality professionals have been teased by our families on more than one occasion for applying quality principles to everyday life. “I know you said you did your homework, but I’d like to see the evidence.” Admit it; many of you have been… Risky BusinessProviding direction without offering solutions
Tue, 10/09/2007 - 22:00
Last month’s column dealt with how to effectively communicate a finding of nonconformity in an audit report. It’s pretty straightforward: Here’s the requirement; there’s the evidence. They don’t match. Observations, which are now often called… Painless NonconformitiesJust the facts, please
Tue, 09/11/2007 - 22:00
“Nonfulfillment of a requirement.” That’s the clear and concise definition of a nonconformity offered up by ISO 9000:2005–“Quality management systems—Fundamentals and vocabulary.” The definition leaves little room for ambiguity. A nonconformity is… Who Cares About Records?You should
Tue, 08/07/2007 - 22:00
Control of quality records: Can there possibly be a more boring requirement? You can feel the yawn coming on as you read through the requirements of ISO 9001 subclause 4.2.4.
Not only are you required to keep records, you’re required to have a… Counting What MattersThink before you count.
Tue, 07/10/2007 - 22:00
What data are the best to gather? What processes should you be tracking? What are your metrics telling you? In observing various organizations’ attempts to fulfill ISO 9001 requirements around subclause 8.4—“Analysis of data,”–I’ve noticed a… Training and CompetenceNot quite cause-and-effect
Tue, 06/12/2007 - 22:00
Subclause 6.2.2 of ISO 9001 is ubiquitously referred to as the training clause. That unfortunately narrows the focus to only one aspect of the requirement. The subclause is situated in the section of the standard that relates to provision of…
