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We can assist you with virtually any part of your Quality program. This section is a sample of some of the specific areas in which we experience. Please contact us for further information if you are in need of specific assistance.
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There are different types of audits. A horizontal slice is like that audit your ISO 9000 registrar might perform. This is an overview type audit and verifies that the appropriate program elements are in place and that they are being implemented, but doesn't go into any great detail in any one area. The vertical slice goes into greater detail with a narrower scope. A few examples might be selected and tracked through the entire process in great detail. Then there are records based and perfomance based. We've seen all too often where the auditor gets hung up on procedural compliance and frustrates the auditee. This is typically the case when the auditor doesn't understand the process. Procedural adjustment may be the necessary fix.
Over our years of experience, we have performed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party audits to many different codes and standards. Many of them we were not familiar with when we got the assignment. The truth is, that a technically oriented person, can generate a checklist and execute a good performance based audit to virtually any code, standard, program, or procedure. Our technically oriented auditors are degreed and will understand what is important and what is not to your particular process.
Performance Based Auditing, which is required by ISO 9000:2000, is our specialty and our nuclear experience has demanded this type audit for many years. This is a new approach for the commercial industry and we can assist you with the transition. We can perform your internal audits to your procedures and/or the standards you comply to. Or, we can supplement, compliment, and coach your audit staff as necessary. We can also help you prepare for an ISO 9000 periodic or new registration audit. While many companies rotate their personnel through their internal audit program to get a fresh look and to avoid them from getting stale, every now and then an independent look by a very experienced auditor is beneficial. We are not familiar the way “you always do it” and just might come up with a better approach.
Don’t confuse this with an audit. This a management tool and might look well beyond your procedures and dig deep into your process to examine its efficiency. If you think your process is not as efficient as it might be, then an Assessment may be in order. Typically, we’ll do an Assessment by taking a “vertical slice” of a process starting at the very beginning and going all the way through to the end in great detail. Or, when used for troubleshooting, we can start at the end and work our way up through the process. You can take credit for this activity under your Process Improvement Program which is required by ISO 9000:2000. Keep in mind that we are not familiar the way “you always do it” and just might come up with a better approach.
Our experience includes qualifications for Mechanical, Electrical/Electronics, Civil, Visual (including welding) inspection. And with the Electrical/Mechanincal combination, were are qualified for Instrumentation and Controls. We can effectively and efficiently verify compliance (or noncompliance) to drawings and specifications at your facility or your vendors. Combined with our audit experience, we can verify all contractual requirements you have placed on your vendors.
We've had lots of commercial and heavy construction experience. From drilling caissons and site preparation up through the roof and everything in between, electrical and mechanical systems included. See our Construction Experience on our experience page, and our Inspection experience above.
PROCESS AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
This is one of the key activities for successful ISO 9000:2000 implementation. Some companies have difficulty with this because they don’t really understand the intent. Most likely, you are already doing much of what you need to be doing to appropriately implement this. It may just need to be documented properly.
We have a program thats been successfully implemented that gets supervision and management actively involved. The program is simple and effective. Positive and negative data are recorded and analyzed through a statistical process. A true trend is the result, not just a graph of negative data.
We can assist you in generating a new program or revising the one you have. Our approach is Performance Based. If your process is already working efficiently, it may not need to be revised, just documented. Maybe you are introducing a new process and would like to plan it out appropriately. If you are preparing for an ISO 9000 Registration, or a revision of your program to the 2000 standard, we can assist you either by performing an audit or a gap analysis.
We’ll review your contracts placed with your vendors for Quality and technical requirements, and your methodology of your acceptance of his program and of the product. We can qualify your vendors through the audit process and can do source inspection for you. (see INSPECTION above)
If you need a bit of assistance when a regular member of your staff is unavailable, looking to temporarily fill a position, or you get a large contract, we can help you in the short term.
The term “independent” says it all. Every now and then, a fresh look at your internal controls is essential. All too often the phrase “that’s the way we always do it” is used. This may be performed as an Assessment. Consider this activity as a management tool for ISO 9000:2000 compliance.
QUALITY SEMINARS AND EMPLOYEE TRAINING
Seminars with active feedback and discussion are the prefered method of training. This is by far the most effective method that we know of. We can customize a program specific to your needs for detailed or general training within your program.
