Quality management system guide – How to implement ISO 9001: 2015?
To establish a process map for an ISO 9001 quality management system, we need to understand two things. What is the process? Why do we need one?
What is the process?
The process in the ISO 9001 system, but not only that, is a sequence of activities that we carry out to achieve the goal we set for ourselves.
Why do we need a process?
Looking at the company in this way makes it much easier for us to manage it. You ask how? Let’s ask ourselves a few questions. The answears will give us a prescription for process management! To simplify, let’s assume that my company is involved in the acquisition and sale of helicopter parts. Questions?
What do I have to do to get an invoice and transfer for it? I have to sell. I need to provide parts or consumables. I need to provide a service. No mistakes, because for it I will get a contractual penalty.
What do I have to do to make a profit? Make delivery and service without errors, to not have to pay penalties and repeat work (routes, deliveries).
Leading question: What to do to win the tender? I have to meet the criteria and give the lowest price – I have to have a cheap supplier (it’s hard in this industry, besides, I only buy parts from one company) or a small margin, but in order not to lose it, I have to complete the task flawlessly.
Now I can identify the processes (ISO 9001) and their goals (ISO 9001):
- Sales process – the goal is to win the offer contest or tender by offering lower price than the competition.
- The process of delivering parts and materials – the goal is to deliver in accordance with the specification (I have a list), on time specified in the specification (the dates are defined). To get this I have to be sure that my deliveries are flawless, so I establish quality control.
- Sub-process of quality control – before the delivery, after its completion (if we re-assemble it in our warehouse)
- The process of purchasing parts and materials – the goal is to purchase materials from the supplier in advance, allowing for their quality control and possible complaint. I have connections, so I will perform factory control;)
- Sub-process quality control of deliveries carried out by the supplier – the goal is to obtain 100% certainty that the parts comply with the specification (type and quantity) and the materials comply with the specification (type and quantity)
- Process of service – the goal is to provide a service in accordance with the specification and the technical requirements, allowing for the exploatation of the machine. The auxiliary goal is to identify all machine elements that were not covered by our service and may cause a failure to forward their list to the customer (to be able to defend against the customer’s claims).
- Sub-process of quality control of the service – the goal is to check whether all activities, including checks, were performed correctly and in the correct sequence and whether they were recorded in accordance with the sequence.
- Contract settlement process – the goal is to issue an invoice and deliver it to the customer.
Now I can now conclude that I have identified the QMS processes and process goals.
I just need to draw them to determine their sequence.
The process map is ready 🙂