The Quality Conundrum and Small Business – PART 2

The Quality Conundrum and Small Business – PART 2

he International Organization for Standardization (ISO) offers these suggestions for development of a QUALITY POLICY. A Quality Policy is part mission statement, part operational rules. When combined these procedures generate a set of standards for a company that should be fixed in stone.

One test of the value of any standard is whether it can be bent or broken. A quality policy is a formal statement from management, closely linked to the business and marketing plan and customer. Click Here to review the case for having a quality policy.

Some general standards for a QUALITY POLICY include:

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The quality policy is understood and followed at all levels and
by all employees.

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Each employee works towards measurable objectives.

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The business makes decisions about the quality system
based on recorded data.

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The quality system is regularly audited and evaluated for
conformance and effectiveness.

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Records show how and where raw materials and products
were processed to allow products and problems to be traced
to the source.

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The business determines customer requirements.

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The business has created systems for communicating with
customers about product information, inquiries, contracts,
orders, feedback, and complaints.

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When developing new products, the business plans the stages
of development, with appropriate testing at each stage. It tests
and documents whether products meet design requirements,
regulatory requirements, and user needs. 

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Records show how and where raw materials and products were
processed to allow products and problems to be traced to
the source. 

red ball

The business determines customer requirements.

red ball

The business has created systems for communicating with
customers about product information, inquiries, contracts,
orders, feedback, and complaints.

red ball

When developing new products, the business plans the stages
of development, with appropriate testing at each stage. It tests
and documents whether products meet design requirements,
regulatory requirements, and user needs.

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The business regularly reviews performance through audits and meetings.

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The business determines whether the quality system is working
and what improvements can be made. It has a documented
procedure for internal audits.

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The business deals with past problems and potential problems. It keeps records of these activities and the resulting decisions, and monitors their effectiveness.

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The business has documented procedures for dealing with actual and potential non conformance problems involving suppliers, customers, or internal problems.

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The business makes sure no one uses a bad product. Determines what to do with a bad product. Deals with the root cause of problem. Maintains records to use as a tool to improve the system.