ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System

Implementing a Quality Management System (QMS) within an organisation needs to be a decision by top management. The objective of the quality system needs to be clearly defined so that the system can be effective.

The design and implementation of a quality management system will vary depending on the type, size and products of the organisation. Each company will have it's own objective, however most companies objective is to increase profitability. A Quality Management System will assist by:

managing costs and risks
increasing effectiveness and productivity
identifying improvement opportunities
increasing customer satisfaction

A well managed quality system will have an impact on:

customer loyalty and repeat business
market share
operational efficiencies
flexibility and ability to respond to market opportunities
effective and efficient use of resources
cost reductions
competitive advantages
participation and motivation of human resources
industry reputation
control on all processes

The objectives of your Quality Management System should mirror the above in some form.

Requirements:
ISO 9001:2000 requires a quality system to be documented, tested, measured and assessed.

Management commitment is essential for the implementation and ongoing success of the Quality Management System.

QMS objectives must be measurable and reflect the overall company objectives.

The QMS must be able to be managed properly, adequate resources must be allocated.

The system must be reviewed regularly and measured for effectiveness, adjustments must be made to reflect major changes to the organisation and business practices.

The system must be practical and accessible to all employees within the organisation.

Accreditation:
It is not essential to gain accreditation for a Quality Management System to work effectively. It depends on the organisation if they wish to gain accreditation, however the benefits should be considered:

Your company will be recognised as an organisation that is committed to providing quality products, improvement and customer satisfaction.

You will gain respect through the industry as a fully accredited quality company.

Implementation and Certification of a QMS

Responsibility	Process
Management	Set objectives and goals of the Quality Management System Appoint a Quality Team to develop and maintain the QMS Set timelines and project scope Allocate resources required for the development, implementation and on-going management of the system Inform all staff and seek participation from all levels
Management/ Quality Team	Decide if a Consultant is required for the project Prepare a project plan and allocate resources Assess an appropriate budget based on equipment, training, time and personnel required Seek approval from management to procure required resources and attend any training
Quality Team	Assess method for documenting the QMS Design templates and documentation Set timelines for the various tasks Schedule individual departments and positions for development of policies and procedures
Quality Team/ Management	Develop Quality Management System policies to reflect company objectives Start to develop procedures and work instructions with each department Report to management any risks and improvement opportunities that have been found Document any Quality Corrective Action Requests that might be identified (identified risk areas that require management attention and improvements)
Management	Approve and issue the Quality Management System Operate the QMS for a minimum period of 3 months
Quality Team	Carry out initial audits to ensure documentation matched processes Ensure that "you do what you say you do" if any deficiencies are found either change processes or change the QMS to reflect what is actually done Assess the effectiveness of the QMS and implement any changes that might be required
Management	Undertake management review of the QMS Adjust resource requirements Decide if accreditation assessment is required Set accreditation assessment timelines Appoint Accreditation Body
Accreditation Body	Undertake Audit Report findings to management including any changes required to the QMS
Quality Team/ Management	Make changes to the QMS according to the findings of the Accreditation Body Advise Accreditation Body to reassess the QMS
Accreditation Body	Undertake follow-up audit If all requirements are met, accreditation will be issued
Quality Team/ Management Accreditation Body	Continue to audit, review and assess the QMS at the agreed time intervals Continue to assess risk areas and identify improvement opportunities Continue to review policies and procedures and make amendments as required Continue to measure effectiveness of QMS to the overall company performance

For further information on the ISO 9001:2000 standards and how they apply to the Quality Management System Click Here

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