How can you prevent your ISO system fading away
Your ISO 9000 system wont fade away as long as top management
remains committed to it. Top management will remain committed to
it as long as they see that it is returning some sort of benefit. That
benefit may take one of two general forms:
1. Current business stays as a result of the ISO 9000 system.
2. New business comes as a result of the ISO 9000 system
Top management will stay committed to the system if only to maintain existing business and, hopefully, obtain new business. This requires that the organization remain registered.
First reinforcement For the organization to remain registered, it must undergo and pass surveillance assessments, usually every six months. This is probably the most potent of the four reinforcement mechanisms of ISO 9000óthe attributes that keep the system from fading away as another program of the month.
The second reinforcement mechanism is the Management Review process required by the senior management review the ISO 9000 system from top to bottomóits implementation, its suitability, its effectiveness, its results. Management must do this on a scheduled basis.
Records must be kept to prove that it is done. The reviews have the effect of forcing management to pay attention to the system. The reviews are also an educational process for management. Over time,they see how useful the ISO 9000 system can be as a management and communications tool.
The third reinforcement mechanism is the internal audit process required by the Standard . Trained, independent employees audit the entire quality system on a scheduled basis and record the results. Corrective actions must be carried out and verified against deficiencies found during these audits. Internal auditing is not only an outstanding implementation tool. It also keeps the entire organization tuned in to the system and improving it on an ongoing basis.
The fourth reinforcement mechanismóand arguably the most important oneó is the measurement and analysis processes required by the Standard If you do a good job of establishing meaningful process and quality measuresóand then gather, analyze, and react to the data on a disciplined basisóyou will see how well the system is working for you. Word to the wise: Establish the measures early in the implementation, so you have a set of baseline measures to compare with subsequent results.
