Quality Management may be defined as the process through which organizations apply statistical process control mechanisms in order to improve the quality and standards of goods and services that are manufactured. Closely related to Quality Management is tqm, also known as total quality management. This is basically a management strategy that is applied in businesses in order to create awareness of high quality in most organizational processes. Quality Management features three main components including quality assurance, quality improvement and quality control. Quality management is focused not only on the quality of products and services but also on continuous improvement of quality standards.
Most methods that are now being used for Quality Management, quality system and quality manufacturing system take into consideration the need for high quality as an essential attribute in services and products that are manufactured by companies and organizations. Quality Management usually involves the successful improvement of quality of services and products. This is usually done through quality training processes where one can also acquire lessons on quality process and process management. One tool that is used for ensuring auditing quality in Quality Management is the MasterControlQAAD(TM) software. Besides using tools to carry out Quality Management successfully, one can also consider applying project management. This will help ensure continuous quality improvement.
The other way through which organizations can improve quality of process and service output is by using six sigma. This is basically a business management strategy that helps identify and remove defects and variations in the manufacturing process. It also helps guarantee Quality Management. It works by using a set of high quality business management and overall management methods to ensure quality and guarantee Quality Management. Most products and services to which Quality Management is applied are certified with iso certificates. Some of the iso certificates that guarantee that a product or service has undertaken Quality Management, change management and process improvement is iso 9001.
iso 9001 and iso 14001:2004 set down specific guidelines for environmental management systems and Quality Management. Other guidelines can be found in other generic process management philosophies such as the lean management that follows iso 9000 quality improvement standards aimed at guaranteeing total quality to its quality systems. The other mode through which organizations guarantee Quality Management is by use of a quality plan that meets iso 14000 and iso 14001 iso certification requirements. The other iso certification that guarantees product quality in Quality Management include iso 9001 2000.
In order to meet supplier quality in Quality Management systems, there are several iso training sessions that are offered. These meet iso standards. An organization that is in need of Quality Management for its products and services may also consider using a quality manual for its day to day Quality Management plans. Such a manual will usually have guidelines for iso quality. However, when applying the guidelines in the manual, regard must be had to quality audit measures aimed at guaranteeing Quality Management for the organization. Quality Management also involves knowledge of as9100 and iso 13485 that are commonly applicable in supplier management.
Quality Management programs that are iso certified help offer quality policy to existing iso 9001 certifications and quality management system that meet iso 9000 and ts16949 requirements. Quality companies that are aimed at ensuring Quality Management for the products and services that they manufacture also use quality management software that guarantees managing quality. In order to enhance Quality Management, the software guarantees quality procedures through its high rate of functionality. Besides such software, an organization can adopt quality assurance training and also offer quality consulting to its members in order to guarantee Quality Management to its products and services.
There are also several quality project management plans, which meet iso standards such as iso 9002 that are available today. Such plans are usually developed with a view to developing flexible, affordable and scalable management solutions to companies that seek to uphold Quality Management for their products and services. Such plans feature quality management systems that offer quality control management and quality assurance management through quality a management plan. Other quality objectives that can be obtained through iso 9001 training thus meeting iso 9000 certification use project management skills to improve Quality Management for the manufactured products and services.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
ISO 14001 Standards – Complying with Environmental Laws and Regulations
One of the most commonly cited reasons for implementing an ISO 14001 environmental management system is that it helps an organization comply with environmental laws and regulations.
ISO 14001 registration will provide additional assurance to City Council, senior management, regulators and key stakeholders that appropriate procedures have been implemented to identify, track, and communicate environmental laws and regulations. ISO 14001 registration will also provide assurance that our Administration is controlling, monitoring, and improving performance, relative to these laws/regulations.
A strong environmental management system, aimed at legal/regulatory compliance, will serve the City of Edmonton by increasing the likelihood of avoiding convictions, fines and judgments; avoiding internal legal costs; and promoting positive relations with regulators.
ISO 14001 registration will provide additional assurance to City Council, senior management, regulators and key stakeholders that appropriate procedures have been implemented to identify, track, and communicate environmental laws and regulations. ISO 14001 registration will also provide assurance that our Administration is controlling, monitoring, and improving performance, relative to these laws/regulations.
A strong environmental management system, aimed at legal/regulatory compliance, will serve the City of Edmonton by increasing the likelihood of avoiding convictions, fines and judgments; avoiding internal legal costs; and promoting positive relations with regulators.
IS0 14001 – HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
Firstly ISO 14000 environment system standards was prepared in June of 1992 year in Rio at world apex and this standard brooks decisions of this world apex and Rio contract principles. After 1 year, ISO established one technique committee which is yielded by 50 different country representatives to prepare international environment management system in 1993 year. ISO 14001 environment management system standard was issued in September of 1996 year with works of this committee. ISO 14001 standard is used as voluntary now but ISO 14001 will be burden by coercions of societies, international organizations, states in the future. Levels which environment management system passed are the following briefly:
= Europe community countries issued I action plan in 1973 year (to practice protecting preventions of environment )= BS 7750 Standard in 1992= Rio Declaration in 1992 year= ISO/TC 207. Environmental management technique committee was established in 1993 year to develop ISO 14000 family standards= TS 9719 standard (environment management system – General features) in 1994 year= ISO 14001 standard in 1996 year= ISO 14001 current version in April of 2005 Nisan 2005
= Europe community countries issued I action plan in 1973 year (to practice protecting preventions of environment )= BS 7750 Standard in 1992= Rio Declaration in 1992 year= ISO/TC 207. Environmental management technique committee was established in 1993 year to develop ISO 14000 family standards= TS 9719 standard (environment management system – General features) in 1994 year= ISO 14001 standard in 1996 year= ISO 14001 current version in April of 2005 Nisan 2005
ISO 14001 and The Environment
The ISO 14000 family of International Standards on environmental management is a relative newcomer to ISO’s portfolio – but enviroment-related standardization is far from being a new departure for ISO.
In fact, ISO has two-pronged approach to meeting the needs of business, industry, governments, non-governmental organizations and consumers in the field of the environment.
On the one hand, it offers a wideranging portfolio of standardized sampling, testing and analytical methods to deal with specific environmental challenges. It has developed more than 350 International Standards (out of a total morethan 12000) for the monitoring of such aspects as the quality of air, water and soil. These standards are means of providing business and government with scientifically valid data on the environmental effects of economic activity.
They also serve in a number of countries as the technical basis for environmental regulations.
ISO is leading a strategic approach by developing environmental management system standards that can be implemented in any type of organization in either public or private sectors (companies, administration, public utilities). To spearhead this strategic approach, ISO establish a new technical commitee, ISO /TC 207, Environmental management, in
1993. This followed ISO’s successful pioneering experience in management system standardization with the ISO 9000 series for quality management.
ISO’s direct involvement in environmental management stemmed from an intensive consultation process, carried out within the framework of a Strategic Advisory Group on Environment (SAGE),set up in 1991, in which 20 countrie, 11 international organizations and more than 100 environmental experts participated in defining the basic requirements of a new approach to environment-related standards.
This pioneering work was consolidated with ISO’s commitment to support the objective of “sustainable development” dicussed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Today, delegations of business and government experts from 55 countries have participate actively within TC 207,
and another 16 countries have observer status. These delegations are chosen by the national standars institute concerned and they are required to bring to TC 207 a national consensus on issue being addressed by the commitee.
This national consensus is derived from a process of consultation with interested parties.
From its beginning, it was recognized that ISO/TC 207 should have close cooperation with ISO/TC 176, Quality management and quality assurance, in the areas of management systems, auditing and related terminology. Active efforts are under way to ensure compatibility of ISO environmental management and quality management standards, for the benefit of all organizations wishing to implement them.
In fact, ISO has two-pronged approach to meeting the needs of business, industry, governments, non-governmental organizations and consumers in the field of the environment.
On the one hand, it offers a wideranging portfolio of standardized sampling, testing and analytical methods to deal with specific environmental challenges. It has developed more than 350 International Standards (out of a total morethan 12000) for the monitoring of such aspects as the quality of air, water and soil. These standards are means of providing business and government with scientifically valid data on the environmental effects of economic activity.
They also serve in a number of countries as the technical basis for environmental regulations.
ISO is leading a strategic approach by developing environmental management system standards that can be implemented in any type of organization in either public or private sectors (companies, administration, public utilities). To spearhead this strategic approach, ISO establish a new technical commitee, ISO /TC 207, Environmental management, in
1993. This followed ISO’s successful pioneering experience in management system standardization with the ISO 9000 series for quality management.
ISO’s direct involvement in environmental management stemmed from an intensive consultation process, carried out within the framework of a Strategic Advisory Group on Environment (SAGE),set up in 1991, in which 20 countrie, 11 international organizations and more than 100 environmental experts participated in defining the basic requirements of a new approach to environment-related standards.
This pioneering work was consolidated with ISO’s commitment to support the objective of “sustainable development” dicussed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Today, delegations of business and government experts from 55 countries have participate actively within TC 207,
and another 16 countries have observer status. These delegations are chosen by the national standars institute concerned and they are required to bring to TC 207 a national consensus on issue being addressed by the commitee.
This national consensus is derived from a process of consultation with interested parties.
From its beginning, it was recognized that ISO/TC 207 should have close cooperation with ISO/TC 176, Quality management and quality assurance, in the areas of management systems, auditing and related terminology. Active efforts are under way to ensure compatibility of ISO environmental management and quality management standards, for the benefit of all organizations wishing to implement them.
ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AUDIT
In order to be in conformance with this provision of ISO 14001 an organization must be able to answer the overall question: “How does the organization conduct environmental audits of the EMS?”. In order to answer that question four specific tasks must be addressed under the Management System Audit section of the standard.
First, the organization must develop a program and related procedures that define an audit plan of the environmental management system. In addition the program must define frequency of the audit process. Second, the procedures must specify the methodology of the audit process, including the qualifications of the auditors. Third, the audit reports must be submitted to top management. Fourth, the audit reports must provide recommendations directed at correcting any reported nonconformance that was discovered in the audit process.
The audit process discussed in this section of the standard is directed at internal audits. The standard is silent on the frequency issue. Generally accepted practice with a mature ISO 14001 system is a total audit of the system once a year. In the implementation phase of an environmental management system a more frequent audit process might be appropriate. In addition any part of the environmental management system that has been previously determined to be in nonconformance should be audited with an increased frequency. The methodology of the audit process required by the standard requires two distinct steps:
A. determine whether the environmental management system conforms to the requirements of ISO 14001, andB. that the system has been managed as described in the Environmental Policy statement, the Environmental Objectives and Targets, and the related work descriptions and procedures.
It is critical that an audit report that relates a nonconformance be forwarded to top management promptly. The internal audit staff must be competent with respect to the requirements of ISO 14001.
First, the organization must develop a program and related procedures that define an audit plan of the environmental management system. In addition the program must define frequency of the audit process. Second, the procedures must specify the methodology of the audit process, including the qualifications of the auditors. Third, the audit reports must be submitted to top management. Fourth, the audit reports must provide recommendations directed at correcting any reported nonconformance that was discovered in the audit process.
The audit process discussed in this section of the standard is directed at internal audits. The standard is silent on the frequency issue. Generally accepted practice with a mature ISO 14001 system is a total audit of the system once a year. In the implementation phase of an environmental management system a more frequent audit process might be appropriate. In addition any part of the environmental management system that has been previously determined to be in nonconformance should be audited with an increased frequency. The methodology of the audit process required by the standard requires two distinct steps:
A. determine whether the environmental management system conforms to the requirements of ISO 14001, andB. that the system has been managed as described in the Environmental Policy statement, the Environmental Objectives and Targets, and the related work descriptions and procedures.
It is critical that an audit report that relates a nonconformance be forwarded to top management promptly. The internal audit staff must be competent with respect to the requirements of ISO 14001.
Reasons a Company Becomes Certified in ISO 9001 Standards
ISO 9000 certification or registration can be an expensive process. A company must consider the reasons and promised benefits for going through this process. If a company decides to seek certification, they should consider making sure their suppliers are certified or at least compliant to the ISO 9000 standards.
Major reasonsIn the early 1990s, companies seemed to be jumping on the certification bandwagon without seriously considering the rationale for doing so. Often they did so because competitors or “everybody else” is getting registered. Today companies seriously look at the reasons and benefits for becoming registered.
The major reasons that company leadership or management decides to seek ISO 9000 certification are to gain continued or increased business and to maintain effective operations.
Improved businessA company can maintain a relationship with customers, as well as get increased business through complying to the ISO 900 standards or becoming certified. This comes from satisfying customer demands, the desire for European business, and to advertise.
Finally, some companies want to become certified, so they can advertise that fact and give the impression of being better than their competitors.
You have seen ads with a logo stating the company is certified at some ISO 9000 level. It apparently gives those companies a leg up on competitors not registered.
Again, this seemed more important in the 1990s, but you don’t see that many companies using ISO 9000 certification as an advertising tool.
ISO 9000 is supposed to make sure your business is run in an orderly manner that will assure continued success.
One would think that a goal such as being run effectively and able to deliver goods consistently and reliably would also be desirable for a company’s own operation. Surprisingly, many companies do not consider that as a goal.
Major reasonsIn the early 1990s, companies seemed to be jumping on the certification bandwagon without seriously considering the rationale for doing so. Often they did so because competitors or “everybody else” is getting registered. Today companies seriously look at the reasons and benefits for becoming registered.
The major reasons that company leadership or management decides to seek ISO 9000 certification are to gain continued or increased business and to maintain effective operations.
Improved businessA company can maintain a relationship with customers, as well as get increased business through complying to the ISO 900 standards or becoming certified. This comes from satisfying customer demands, the desire for European business, and to advertise.
Finally, some companies want to become certified, so they can advertise that fact and give the impression of being better than their competitors.
You have seen ads with a logo stating the company is certified at some ISO 9000 level. It apparently gives those companies a leg up on competitors not registered.
Again, this seemed more important in the 1990s, but you don’t see that many companies using ISO 9000 certification as an advertising tool.
ISO 9000 is supposed to make sure your business is run in an orderly manner that will assure continued success.
One would think that a goal such as being run effectively and able to deliver goods consistently and reliably would also be desirable for a company’s own operation. Surprisingly, many companies do not consider that as a goal.
Friday, September 18, 2009
What is ISO 14000?
ISO 14000 is a series of international standards that have been developed to incorporate environmental aspects into business operations and product standards. ISO 14001 is a specific standard in the series for a management system that incorporates a set of interrelated elements designed to minimize an organization’s impact on the environment. Similar to the ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS), ISO 14001 defines the implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS). In addition, ISO14001 incorporates the QMS ISO 9001 management system philosophy, terminology, and requirement structure, providing system compatibility.
What Does ISO 14001 Require?
Originally issued in 1996 and later revised in 2004, the ISO 14001 EMS standard is intended to address the identification, evaluation, and continual improvement of an organization’s activities, products, or services that interact with the environment. The ISO 14001 methodology is a systematic approach for continually improving environmental management through identification and evaluation of aspects and impacts, development of objectives and measurable targets, implementation of programs, and on-going monitoring and review.
What Does ISO 14001 Require?
Originally issued in 1996 and later revised in 2004, the ISO 14001 EMS standard is intended to address the identification, evaluation, and continual improvement of an organization’s activities, products, or services that interact with the environment. The ISO 14001 methodology is a systematic approach for continually improving environmental management through identification and evaluation of aspects and impacts, development of objectives and measurable targets, implementation of programs, and on-going monitoring and review.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)