The Dilemma of Procedure Reference on Process Maps and Quality Manuals
A reader asked, “I have the need to create a procedure as part of our ISO program and was wondering, should this procedure be listed on the process map either as a core process or as a supporting process? …
Document Control 101: How to comply with ISO and API without being trapped by your own words
Sometimes the interpretation of the ISO 9001 or API Q1 9th Edition/API Q2 requirements seem to force us to do things we won’t be able to do, or sustain for more than a few months— let alone days…
Red Tag, Green Tag: Color-Coded Tags
When it comes to red tags and green tags, which does your company use? A reader shared this material identification issue with us after a recent audit…
Numbering Schemes: Would a Document Register Help?
A reader recently asked us, “When generating a new form, procedure, or document, how do I know which number to use? How do I know which numbers are available? Let’s say I create a Receiving form…
Procedure vs. Work Practice
A reader recently asked, “What is the difference between a procedure and a work practice? For example, when a job is completed it is sent to Invoicing…
How to Write an ISO or API Compliant Quality Manual
How To Build A Perfect Quality Manual Quality Manual Series: Part 3 of 3 Ah, so you read my part 1, “The Abominable Quality Manual,” and part 2, “How Did We Get Here,” and now you are ready to learn how to build a perfect Quality Manual. Well, I have good news and bad news …
Risk Assessment 101: Do It Right the First Time and Every Time
With all the current buzz about Risk Assessment brought about by API Spec Q1 9th Edition, API Spec Q2 and the circulating draft of the ISO 9001possible 2015 version, how is one supposed to know when to do risk assessment…
Web QMS – How Clients Use It for More than ISO
Okay, I’m interested. What else can Web QMS do for us? Mireaux’s Web QMS quality management systems software is mostly known for being an essential tool for meeting all requirements of the ISO 9001 standard…
Farmington Nights – API Spec Q2 Certification: Not for the Faint of Heart
On a beautiful January afternoon in Houston, I prepare to go to Farmington, New Mexico, a town of 45,000 that most people have never heard of. It’s 60 degrees and sunny in Houston…
How did the Quality Manual Come to be a Mirror of the Standard?
How did this all start? Quality Manual Series: Part 2 of 3 Way back when, we used to have a Quality Manual with the following elements: A picture of our process map (to satisfy the sequence and interaction of the processes) …
The Abominable Quality Manual
Is a Quality Manual that simply regurgitates the standard useful for continual improvement? Quality Manual Series: Part 1 of 3 Have you ever seen a Quality Manual that did not look exactly like the ISO standard? Not lately, probably …
Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo – Selecting the Right Registrar Isn’t Child’s Play
So you’ve made the decision to seek certification – congratulations! You’re on your way to strengthening the core processes that translate into quality improvement, greater operational efficiency, increased profitability and a purposeful customer focus …
How to Determine Critical Suppliers (vs. Non-critical Suppliers) Based on API Specification Q1 9th Edition or API Specification Q2
A reader asks, “I am currently working on transition to API Specification Q1 9th Edition and I got stuck at 5.6.1.1 a) Determine Criticality. We are a repair/remanufacturing facility for the oil and gas industry …
Who is in Charge of Customer Satisfaction? Quality or Sales?
If your company is ISO certified or thinking about becoming ISO certified, you may already know that meeting customer requirements and achieving customer satisfaction is paramount to the certification …
ISO: Most Frequently Asked Questions
Have you ever been audited by an ISO auditor? If you have, then you should know that there are a set of questions that are frequently asked during audits against various ISO standards …
