So When Exactly Should I Use a Corrective Action?Definitely for customer complaints and issues that affect your product’s quality
Wed, 09/26/2012 - 09:18
No matter how much effort we put into meeting a quality standard’s requirements for continual improvement, there are times when we are not sure whether to call for a corrective action. Although there is no instrument that points to yes or no and… What Is the Grandfather Clause and When Should I Use It?Use common sense in setting it and stick to it
Wed, 09/12/2012 - 12:58
When implementing a new management system based on ISO standards, experts usually invoke the grandfather clause as a way to relieve the enforcement of some requirements. When, where, and how often can the grandfather clause be invoked?
The… Our ISO Management Rep Is Leaving. Should I Call 911?Keep your management system in check with these can-do suggestions
Wed, 08/15/2012 - 13:05
Your ISO management rep is leaving the company, and you have yet to reassign the post. If you’re wondering whether there are any formalities that must be followed, don’t worry. There’s no need to hit the panic button. With some simple planning, you… Document Review: Do I Have To?ISO 9001 requires that your procedures and work instructions are always accurate
Fri, 07/27/2012 - 13:28
Deciding how to control your documents can be difficult. ISO 9001, the quality management system (QMS) standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), requires you maintain accurate and up-to-date procedures, but doesn’t give… Excuse Me, Mr. Auditor, Can I Phone a Friend?It’s OK to ask for a co-worker’s clarification during an audit
Mon, 06/25/2012 - 10:25
There you are, in the middle of an internal or external audit, and the auditor asks you a question that you are truly not sure about. What do you do?
1. Hit the panic button. 2. Ask the audience for a hint. 3. Phone a friend.
Well, there isn’t a… A Corrective Action Request for Quality AcronymsThere’s one term that can clarify all the others
Tue, 06/05/2012 - 11:39
So, you think you’ve got them all figured it out, and then, bam! Somebody else comes up with a new quality acronym to throw you off your game. But don’t give up too soon. Acronyms are confusing, but they all boil down to continual improvement. The… The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of QualityFace it: You are the underdog
Thu, 09/08/2011 - 15:09
So you have been in the quality world for many years. Admit it, you are the underdog. No matter if the whole company revolves around your statistics and process controls, you are not the operations manager, and neither are you the sales leader.… Are Attendance Sheets Appropriate for Measuring Training Effectiveness?Beware of sacrificing results for complacency
Wed, 06/29/2011 - 10:52
You’ve heard about “measuring training effectiveness” but aren’t quite sure how to do it. You’ve been filling out training attendance sheets for as long as you can recall, and they have served the purpose. So why is training effectiveness all of the… Hey, Ms. Auditee: Did Mickey Mouse Do Your Root Cause Analysis?If it sounds like an excuse, it probably is.
Thu, 04/07/2011 - 06:00
In my March 24th column, I discussed how you should handle audits that point out a minor or "Mickey Mouse" nonconformance. In this column, I am going to look at this from the auditor’s point of view, when it’s obvious that the auditee did not take a… Hey, Mr. Auditor: This Is a Mickey Mouse NonconformityA question of perspective
Thu, 03/24/2011 - 05:30
Have you ever been audited and felt like the auditor’s findings were almost irrelevant in the context of your organization’s major challenges and goals? Did you sometimes feel like you've been handed a Mickey Mouse nonconformity given the issues…
