We are currently testing our new policies and procedures document compliance software, and plan to release it for customer testing in the near future. Potential testers have been asking a number of questions. Here are questions, and the answers:

Is your policy management software accessed as a service over the Internet (Software as a Service - SaaS) or must your policy solution be installed on your computers?

Bizmanualz policy management software is in fact a ‘software-as-a-Service’ available as a subscription over the Internet. The first time a user accesses the service, a small amount of code loads on the client machine in about 30 seconds, similar to when using GoToMeeting or any number of on-line services. The user never is required to install, launch or maintain any software.

Can we upload our existing documents into the system?

You can upload all your existing documents into the system, and open them, so long as your local machine has the software that was used to create the document. For example, MS WORD documents are can be uploaded. In fact, Bizmanualz publishes the world’s most complete set of pre-written policies and procedures, all in MS WORD format. Any policies and procedures template that you buy from us comes pre-loaded in the software. We keep the templates up to date; but we don’t change any documents that you save, upload or change, even if the document started as a Bizmanualz template.

Are documents easy to update?

Documents are edited in their native software on your local machine; they are saved to our server. Our system tracks and controls all document revisions so everyone accesses the latest version. It’s easy to roll back to a previous version if necessary.

Are employees or other users notified when a policy changes or is updated?

Notifications of policy changes are sent by e-mail to policy document authors and ‘followers.’  Administrators and document authors can assign ‘follower’ rights to any user for any document. Users can independently follow any document to which they have permission. Followers receive e-mail notifications of all policy changes. There are also announcement and action item screens within the policy management software that can be used to communicate information about documents.

Can multiple users access policies and procedures at the same time?

Yes, any number of users can access your policy and procedure documents. If two people work on the same document at the same time, their work will be saved (but not released) as two separate drafts. Built-in compliance workflow assures that only one draft can be released, so there are never multiple releases of the same policies and procedures document floating around.

How do you price your policy management software? Do you charge by the seat, or do you sell one license for the whole organization?

We charge per seat for administrative and add/change/delete privileges. Released policy and procedure documents are published to a web site which can be viewed for free by anyone you want. Typically, that would include all your employees and your auditors if you have a formal quality system.

We have an Intranet for reading our documents on-line. How does your software work with Intranets?

If you already have an intranet or a document publishing platform (SharePoint for example) and want to keep using it, our editor module can ftp documents to your existing publishing platform so that user’s viewing habits don’t have to change. But your editors and document managers would benefit from using our editor module for policy and procedure document control, workflow, version control, notifications, etc. while your general employee population would continue to read documents as they’re doing now.

Can I assign different levels of access to users and documents?

We offer a full access control at the document, user and department level. That is, all users assigned to, for example, the accounting department can be granted permission to all accounting procedures with a global command. Additional restrictions can be placed on individuals within a department. Access privileges can also be set at the document level.

Is your policy management software compliant with my quality management or document control requirements?

Yes, the Bizmanualz policy management software is consistent with the document control requirements of all ISO quality management systems, government and industry standards and regulations.

This Monday, May 24, the American Society for Quality (ASQ) brings its annual World Conference on Quality and Improvement to St. Louis, Missouri. For three-plus days, some of the “best and brightest” in the field of quality are coming to one place to share their insights, real-life successes, and some of the challenges in developing, implementing, and maintaining quality management systems.

The WCQI agenda looks like this:

• Thursday-Sunday, May 20-23 - Preconference courses, such as the CQA exam refresher, and leadership meetings;
• Monday, May 24 - Conference opens; keynote address; lectures, presentations, and networking;
• Tuesday, May 25 - Keynote speech; lectures and workshops; and
• Wednesday, May 26 - Workshops, a Six Sigma Forum panel discussion, networking, and the closing session, which includes the presentation of the International Team Excellence Award.

There are presentations and workshops for everyone, from those who are just getting acquainted with quality to those who want to add to their already extensive knowledge of quality concepts and techniques.

Sponsors and exhibitors at the World Conference include:

• Bizmanualz;
  
• Abbott;
• Boeing;
• GE Healthcare;
• The Juran Institute;
• Minitab; and
• Northrup Grumman.

Coincidentally (or not), the ASQ’s event takes place at the same time as National Small Business Week in the U.S. (Wouldn’t it be great to get some cross-pollination of ideas between these two outstanding events?)

If you’re going to be at the WCQI, please look us up; we’re at booth #1013. If you can’t make it, keep watching our blog. We’ll be giving our take on the World Conference in the coming days.

April 28 is World Day for Safety and Health at Work, according to the AFL-CIO, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, and numerous other labor organizations. These organizations, as well as the International Labor Organization (a United Nations agency) and others, observe World Day for Safety & Health at Work to draw attention to the need for accident and illness prevention in the workplace.

This celebration is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health of the ILO.  April 28 is also the day on which the world’s trade union movement commemorates victims of occupational accidents and diseases.

This year’s theme is “Emerging Risks and Patterns of Prevention in a Changing World of Work”. There are newly emerging hazards and risks. Furthermore, the relationship between employer and worker, the demographic of the world’s workforce, patterns of work, and types of work are all changing. These changes, in turn, affect how occupational safety and health are managed at workplace, regional, national, and international levels.

SafeWork, the program on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment, has a number of helpful materials available for download at the ILO web site. You may also wish to visit the following sites:

• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS);
• American Federation of Labor/Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO);
• April 28-Day of Mourning (on Facebook), in association with the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

Bizmanualz will demonstrate its new Policies and Procedures Management and Control software at the ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement (WCQI), May 23-26, 2010, in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Bizmanualz exhibit will showcase the latest in SaaS policies and proceduresmanagement and control software. This software will enable compliance with ISO 9001,Sarbanes-Oxley, ITIL, the Joint Commission, or any standard, guideline, or legislation requiring document management and record control. Specialized policies and procedures software features have been designed to meet Policy Procedures Document Control Software Requirements.

Come to the ASQ’s WCQI show in St. Louis, MO, and look for our exhibit. See our newestpolicy procedure management Software as a Service – designed to meet or exceed your procedure writing, workflow, and compliance requirements – in action! We look forward to seeing you!

What would you say if I told you that by saving time and paper, you can save a bundle of money, too?  Well, that’s exactly what Bizmanualz is offering in the month of April.

Last week, we launched the “Bizmanualz Green Initiative” to encourage you to download our products and save paper and fuel. (Did you know there’s about a ream of paper in each of our printed products? That’s close to six pounds!) By downloading your policies and procedures documents, you save time.  And during April, downloading saves you money, because we’re discounting all download-only policy and procedure manuals. Now that’s a real win-win situation!

Here’s how the Bizmanualz Green Initiative works: We are offering $100 off any procedures manual you purchase as “download only”. Given that our average manual is over 500 pages long, we’re talking about saving a significant amount of paper! And, since we don’t incur material, processing, and shipping costs when you download, we’ll pass along the savings to you, our customer!

What does this mean? You save on every manual you purchase! In other words, save a bundle when you buy a bundle!

When you purchase the 9-manual CEO Company Procedures Series, you’ll instantly save $900 off an already heavily discounted price. Similarly, when you buy the 5-manual CFO Accounting Procedures Series, you save an additional $500. Even if you’re not ready to buy one of the Procedure Series, you still save $100 for each “download-only” individual procedures manual that you purchase.

If you’re thinking about starting your policies and procedures project, this is the best time to do it! The Bizmanualz Green Initiative runs during the month of April only! The incredible savings won’t last long!

Thoroughly researched, complete, and easily editable policies and procedures from Bizmanualz save you countless hours of research and writing time. Why start from scratch when you can get expertly assembled content at your fingertips within minutes?

Like to see what’s in our manuals? Download a free sample. If you have any questions, we’re here to help. Simply call (USA toll free, 1-800-466-9953; outside the USA, 314-863-5079) or contact us online.

Hurry! Buy your policies and procedures manuals from Bizmanualz today!

Here are ten great reasons to attend the ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement, coming to St. Louis, Missouri, this May:

1. Bizmanualz will be there! Look for our booth, where we’ll be showing off our new policies and procedures management software.

2. One of the strongest ASQ sections (#1304) in the country is here. Any of our knowledgeable and personable members will be more than happy to assist you while you’re here.

3. The largest gathering of quality professionals in one place means a myriad of opportunities for exchanging quality information and ideas.  A wise dude once said, “Ideas flourish best in the light of day.”

4. There will be dozens of quality training opportunities. Register early for a seminar…or two…or more!

5. The ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement takes place in late May. That’s generally one of the best times of year — weatherwise — in St. Louis, though as someone once said about St. Louis weather, “If you don’t like (it), wait a while…it’ll change.”

6. St. Louis is home to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Crown Candy Kitchen, Forest Park (one of the largest city parks in the nation), and the St. Louis Cardinals.

7. Arm+Leg > Cost of Parking. Same goes for the cost of meals, lodging, entertainment, and just about anything else you can think of.

8. The Cardinals aren’t in town (they’ll be in San Diego), so you’ll be spared the huge crowds. On the other hand, you’ll miss the game-day sea of red shirts and caps that washes into downtown. (More than awe-inspiring, it’s scary!)

9. Quality speakers like:

• Alan Mulally, Ford CEO;
• Robert Stephens, “Geek Squad” founder; and
• Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity.

10. First one to register for the Quality Conference after March 24 AND send me their proof of registration gets me as a guide for the evening of May 24. (We’ll work out the details.)

There are many, many more outstanding reasons to be here! Don’t miss this event! The World Conference on Quality and Improvement is only two months away, so make your plans!

See you in St. Louis!

This is taken directly from the DoL’s e-mail notice, sent on March 18, 2010:

“The Department’s Employment and Training Administration and Wage and Hour Division published a final rule implementing changes to the H-2A program effective March 15, 2010.  One of the requirements in the rule (italics added) is for employers who employ H-2A workers to display a new H-2A poster where employees can readily see it.

“The poster is also available in Spanish.  It will be made available in other languages in the coming months.

“Please see the ‘elaws FirstStep Poster Advisor‘ for assistance on what other federal employment posters are required.”

We recommend that you visit the “elaws” home page if you haven’t been there recently, to catch up on Department of Labor requirements and notices. If you want — or need — to be informed of developments in the DoL as they occur, subscribe to their e-mail newsletter.

You’re invited to join Bizmanualz on Facebook. Becoming a Fan allows you to connect with others who share your interest in developing and implementing effective and robust Policies and Procedures. In addition, you can:

• Start - or participate in - discussions on policies, processes, and procedures;
• Comment on recent articles and blog posts;
• Post pictures;
• Follow current issues and events; and
• Get information on -  or sign up for - various posted events via links.

Here’s the link to join: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bizmanualz/39752124669.

Thanks to recent reports across all media (ex., “Toyota’s Slow Awakening to a Deadly Problem“, 1 Feb 2010), we’re beginning to see the enormous scope of the acceleration error that has prompted the recall of millions of Toyota vehicles.

Toyota, a company long considered a paragon of lean manufacturing virtue (hence, its assuming the mantle of “World’s Largest Car Maker” from GM), appears to have a serious defect in many of its highest-selling products. “Unintended acceleration” has resulted in hundreds of accidents (reported so far) and the loss of untold lives. In the last two weeks, Toyota shut down the production lines of some of its most popular vehicles to address the situation.

Could it be, as some have suggested, that Toyota has been “hoist with (its) own petard”? Or, to put it another way, was Toyota done in by the very system designed to make it efficient and prosperous?

Just today (1 Feb 2010), Toyota “officially” announced it had found a way to correct the problem (one that goes beyond replacing or doctoring floor mats), but many people aren’t satisfied the manufacturing giant has found the real solution. And even if it has, it will be a long, long time before Toyota recovers from the damage it has done to its reputation.

Questions abound, including “Why didn’t Toyota conduct a thorough investigation when it first learned of the problem (back in 2007?)”, “Why did the company stay with the ‘floor mat’ explanation for so long?”, and “Why didn’t safety bodies (like the NHTSA) do more when they realized there was a problem?”

Toyota’s TPS system appears to be in need of a corrective action — the question is, “Where?” Is the problem in manufacturing only? Customer service? Marketing? Design & development? Outsourcing? Or, did Toyota get too big for its own good?

Toyota’s not the only organization incriminated in this scenario. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration doesn’t come out of this situation unbloodied and unbowed. There are allegations that it could have and should have done more to keep the defect, whatever its root cause, from getting out of control.

In a half-hearted defense of NHTSA, they appear to have been ahead of many of their counterparts around the globe. Recalls in Europe and elsewhere followed the recalls in the US. Furthermore, every government body is hurting. There isn’t anything they don’t need — the authority to inspect and recall, or enforce laws; more people; more training; and a degree of autonomy, so they’re not called on the carpet (truly, no pun intended) for doing their job.

No amount of corrective action, though, can begin to make up for the people who’ve already lost their lives. (Interesting how in a situation like this, we tend to say, “Lives were lost needlessly“, when the opposite is true. Too many times, lives have to be lost — often in numbers — before action is taken.)

Lessons we might take from this at this “early” stage? One: corporate management is increasingly susceptible to hubris as a company grows.   Maybe Toyota was afflicted with the same disease financial services caught — we haven’t seen a problem in so long, they must all be licked. Not that corporate “attitude” is the root cause of Toyota’s problem, or even a proximate cause, but the “floor mat” story should have given us all pause to reflect.

Two: nothing can completely take the place of testing and inspection. We have safety standards, regulations, etc., in place in the aerospace and food businesses. For better or worse, more is on the way. Why not make the automotive world jump similar hurdles (i.e., make safety mandatory)?

Three: the best designed, most rigorous systems eventually come apart when they’re not paid attention. CAPAs, like anything else in your Quality Management System, have to be applied continually in order for your company and your system to improve. Toyota has said it in so many ways: “Satisfactory” isn’t.

So, what happened? Your ideas?

(P.S. - Not like Toyota needed more bad news, but now they have a braking problem on the newest Prius. What do you think of that?)

Today marks my last day working with Bizmanualz. It’s been a great experience, and I’ve learned a lot about the business world—and how it probably should be run.

I came to work at Bizmanualz straight out of journalism graduate school, and my background was steeped in writing, editing, new media, and everything current events. Working as the Web Marketing Manager gave me a completely new experience, and I’ve gotten to see how a company can look when it’s really using business best practices, focusing on continual improvement, aiming for lean quality management, maintaining an efficient and well-trained workforce, and caring about the customer’s wishes. It’s an experience that I’ll be able to take into my next position, and I am grateful for that.

The staff at Bizmanualz is a wonderful, close-knit group of caring individuals who truly care about each customer and ensuring all of the products and services provided to them are top-notch. I will miss them dearly.

I hope you have enjoyed my blog posts, Tweets, and other networking I’ve been doing for Bizmanualz for the past 8 months. Thanks for your comments, and I hope you continue to support Bizmanualz.