ISO Audit Results and Nonconformities

There are some misconceptions about what ISO audit findings are. In this article, I attempt to explain clearly what audit findings are, what types of findings may be generated in an audit and the guidelines that is widely use to categorize audit findings. What are the results of audits? Depending on the audit style adopted …
Five Key Trends to Watch in 2018

The rules are changing and time is short. If you are a manufacturing company or a service provider, there is a good chance that you have heard about standards such as ISO 9001.
Curious About How ISO Standards Are Developed?

Very often we hear that ISO is developing a new standard. For example, a new standard on Occupational Health and Safety, ISO 45001, is under development. Let’s understand how standards are developed.
ISO 45001 – A New Occupational Health & Safety Management System Standard from ISO

What is ISO 45001? It is the new Occupational Health & Safety Management System Standard coming up from ISO…
ISO 14001 Revision Update

When will the new revision will be published? The revised ISO 14001 standard is due to be published by the end of 2015…
Leadership Notes – Don’t Compromise on Quality

To all my colleagues and fellow executives, If you have not made a New Year’s resolution, here is my humble advice for one, from a cohort who also has a company to run…
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…
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 …
The AREs vs the WANNA-BEs

In this world, there are two types of organizations: those that are ISO certified, and those that want to be. Which one is your organization? We ARE ISO 9001 certified! Mireaux’s ISO 9001 Certificate of …
What’s the Difference Series: Compliance vs Certification

Recently, one of our readers asked, “What does it mean when a company says they operate under a Quality Management System that is in compliance with ISO 9001:2000? I’m assuming they are not ISO certified. If not, isn’t this a claim that just anyone can make?” Right off the bat, the statement that company has …
What if our Politicians Were Required to Implement an ISO 9001 Quality Management System on Themselves?

Are you fed up with our politicians? Do you feel they don’t have any morals or goals, or that they do not listen to their constituents’ suggestions for improvement? Do you feel sometimes they don’t know what they are doing?…
ISO is Easier Said than Done Series: Why We Have No ISO Exclusions

When it comes to becoming ISO certified, many organizations try to take as many exclusions as they can from their scope of certification. I imagine they do this because it reduces the number of audit days, and because the cost of certification is determined by the number of audit days. But I think they also …
ISO is Easier Said than Done Series: Mano a Mano – Ultimate Registrar Comparison

So you’re ready to become ISO certified and have found yourself facing the first hurdle: Deciding which ISO Registrar to pick. Don’t worry; you are not alone. For years we’ve helped organizations pick an ISO registrar to match their company’s culture and needs, and for years we’ve seen the process being complex and cumbersome, to …
Excuse Me, Mr. Auditor, Can I Phone a Friend?

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? Hit the panic button. Ask the audience for a hint. Phone a friend. Well, there isn’t a studio audience, and chances are the Auditor didn’t …
Antithesis of a Politician: The Good Quality Professional

Have you ever wondered how most politicians are made? Where do they come from? They definitely seem to come from a different dimension than the rest of us. I think one thing is certain: they are different from the average quality folk. In fact, good quality professionals are the antithesis of most politicians. Explore with …