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…
Wed, 03/09/2011 - 05:00
There’s no more vicious cycle than problems that constantly reoccur because there’s no time to stop and solve them correctly. Although we all would like this cycle to stop, managers can’t afford to let employees waste time with too much…
Tue, 12/21/2010 - 07:36
Most of us set new resolutions every New Year. Whether it is losing weight, exercising more (always the top resolutions), or finishing a degree, we all recognize that a new year and the chance of a fresh start is a powerful combination to motivate…
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 06:00
If you have ever wondered what the difference was between a gap analysis, an internal audit, or a pre-assessment, you might not be alone. When trying to figure out whether your company meets the requirements of a standard, such as one the…
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 05:30
When a quality management system (QMS) is implemented, results are evident immediately: reduction in warranty cost, reduction in rework, reduction in scrap, higher profit margins, etc. Would you agree that ISO 9001 and other quality initiatives…
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:01
The first thing you need to do when you are evaluating a potential supplier based on their ISO 9001 certificate is request that they provide you with a copy of the certificate itself. If the company is indeed certified, they shouldn't have a problem…
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 15:27
When you think about equipment that is used for measuring and test activities, you think about important equipment that is used to pass or fail product but may not necessarily see its correlation with a supply chain. However, this very equipment—…
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 04:00
If you have ever found equipment that is out of calibration, then you know it is not something to take lightly. Whether you manufacture children’s toys or automobile tires, you know that the implications and ramifications of the decisions you make…
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 08:24
The ISO 9001 standard’s requirements with regard to suppliers are very short and concise but carry a lot of punch. These requirements can be very deceiving and in fact are often misinterpreted and carried out poorly or partially. By implementing…
Mon, 08/24/2009 - 15:41
Even after many years of hearing the words ISO 9000 and seeing many organizations achieve registration to ISO 9001, there are still companies who are skeptical when it comes to going for ISO 9001 registration. For some, a misconception about the…