Quality Manual Content - Extended debate - Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

Re: Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

MsHeeler said:

Wow, I thought this thread was eaten by wolves! I am now upgrading the original manual to include 14001. Any opinions or suggestions?

KISS
MsHeeler

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Annex B (table B.1 & B.2) at the back of the ISO 14001 standard lists the technical correspondences between the 2 standards. A good place to start with.

Re: Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

rkasparek said:

Typically in the past I have written my manuals to reflect the standard's requirement and then answer the "how do we comply with that requirement" question from a policy level (the high-level how, why and who). The 'why' seems an important step as it can also describe reasoning behind interrelated processes, as well as reasoning behind business decisions - seems appropriate in the top-level 'policy' manual.

I then refer to the Quality Operating Procedure that details the 'detailed how, when, who and where' and other specifics. Does that make sense? My earlier documents have withstood audits well, and have given the companies a clear path they can follow.

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I think it really comes back, as always, to the purpose of the particular document and its main audience. I can see the logic behind writing a policy manual to reflect the requirements of a Standard, but I abhor the structuring of any manual along the lines of 'clause by clause of the Standard' because while it may well make the auditors happy, it's often less than comprehensible to anyone outside of them. And I definitely don't like procedures strictly aligned to the particular Standard/s either.

No one sets up and runs an organisation (business or otherwise) that mirrors a Standard, and to structure the org's documents on one to me is unintelligent, as well as a whole lot of other negative reasons.

(As you'll have gathered, opinions for and against are strongly held and argued in the Cove.)

But if you're saying in general, I use a 2-tier level (policy at top, procedures next), write policies to meet the requirements of a Standard, and then put the 'how we do this' in the procedures, I have no issue with that.

And welcome to the Cove and this thread, and it's good to hear from you.

Re: Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

That is a great place to start! I had forgotten that was there.

I also found a manual that someone had uploaded that is along the same lines at what I am doing. I am going to see what has been added to it for 14001.

Thank you
MsHeeler

Re: Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

Jane, I appreciate your comments and yes a manual that is USEFUL to the company is a must. Honestly, why write it if it cannot be used?! You probably wouldn't like my past manuals because they do align with the standards, however, they're written in plain down-to-earth language that ties the company's business goals with the fulfillment of the requirements.

Thanks for the welcome to the cove! There is so much passion and knowledge here - I'm glad I found you folks.

R

Re: Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

Hi All,

I'm looking for some comments on our Quality Manual - still a work in progress but it's getting there.

Please see the attachment - any constructive criticism appreciated.

Let me know if this should be posted elsewhere.

Cheers

Re: Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

cormorant said:

Hi All,

I'm looking for some comments on our Quality Manual - still a work in progress but it's getting there.

Please see the attachment - any constructive criticism appreciated.

Let me know if this should be posted elsewhere.

Cheers

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Based on the requirements of the standard, I could find, in the attached manual, few points worth paying attention to:

1. No reference to the procedure adopted for Document & record Control

2. No description of the organization’s processes and their interrelationships as well as reference to the associated documents.

I still feel, there can be many more points and am sure you will get better advise and guidance from the subject experts.

Re: Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

cormorant said:

Hi All,

I'm looking for some comments on our Quality Manual - still a work in progress but it's getting there.

Please see the attachment - any constructive criticism appreciated.

Let me know if this should be posted elsewhere.

Cheers

Click to expand...

Hello,

I'm between I like it, and it is very and only a QM-Manual.
You put the documentation in it, that is required by the standard (and as mentioned before miss the document and record control, as well as the Improvement issues ). But you don't describe your processes, I can see how internal audits run, but nothing about the consulting process, your core process.

It is a very thin document at the moment with 9 pages, why don't spend some pages more, to make it a document representing your company with all processes not only the Quality part.

Regards,

TamTom

Re: Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

Thanks TamTom,

The reason the QM seems a little light on is that there is a lot of supporting documentation. As the most junior member of staff who has had the majority of responsiblity for managing certification I felt it was better to go with several smaller procedures that I could send out for feedback and comments from colleagues rather than roll it all into one massive document which I imagine most people would have balked at. As a result the Project Realisation Procedure covers our processes for delivering projects and itself references the Quality Manual. Likewise for documentation and record keeping which is detailed in the Document Management Policy and Procedure.

That may not have been clear from the example I uploaded and it's true that one thing I haven't included is a summary of how all the different policies and procedures interact. Additionally improvement issues obviously still need work.

I suppose I'll just have to keep working on it

Re: Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

I would suggest that you make the purpose of your QMS a lot more inspiring than just to "meet the requirements of ISO 9001" - that may be a by-product, but if that is all that your people think they are trying to achieve then I can't imagine that they will be jumping up and down with excitement and enthusiasm...

Re: Updated Quality Manual for ISO 9001:2008

Peter Fraser said:

I would suggest that you make the purpose of your QMS a lot more inspiring than just to "meet the requirements of ISO 9001" - that may be a by-product, but if that is all that your people think they are trying to achieve then I can't imagine that they will be jumping up and down with excitement and enthusiasm...

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I agree with Peter,

if you want to implement a Quality Management System, than integrated it in your organization not just add a manual and everything is fine.

The way you've done, it can only function if your company is really already working according to the standard, everybody has a good idea of what Quality is and meant for his work, if this is the case then congratulations.

In all other cases the new manual and system must really support (reduce documents maybe) the people or they will not follow.

Regards,

TamTom