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…
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…
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 …
Most Frequently Asked ISO Audit 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 …
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 …
My ISO Audit is Coming Up and I Have an Emergency – Can We Reschedule?
Can we reschedule an ISO audit? A reader recently asked, “We got certified last year in April. Does our audit this year have to be in April, or can we have it a few months before or after?” …
So When Exactly Should I Use a Corrective Action?
No matter how much we try to meet the continual improvement requirements of the standard, when it comes to corrective action, there are times when we are not sure when to call an issue corrective action or not …
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 …
What is the Grandfather Clause in ISO, and When Should I Use It?
When implementing a new management system based on the ISO standards, whether it is a quality management system, environmental management system, information security management system, etc., …
Our ISO Management Rep is Leaving the Company: Should I Call 911?
Your ISO management Rep is leaving the company, and you have yet to reassign the post. Don’t worry – there is no need to hit the panic button or call 911. If you are wondering whether there are any formalities that need to be followed, then you are on the right track. With some simple …
ISO Document Review: Do I HAVE to?
Deciding how to control your documents can be difficult. ISO 9001 requires you to maintain accurate and up-to-date procedures, but doesn’t give a lot of guidance on how to get there. Between the requirements and the implementation lie grey areas and confusion. Let’s take a look at the difference between what is required and what …
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 …
