Comments on: A Lean ISO 9001 Quality Management System – The Quality Manual

By: Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:51:21 +0000

The documentation approach you use needs to fit your organization, its processes and its users. You are right in saying it is not about making the Quality manual short or long. But, I have never seen a long Quality Manual that was useful. The ISO 9001 standard has three clear requirements for a Quality Manual: The QMS scope (and exclusions), procedures (can be a list), and process interactions (can be a process map). That’s it. If you cannot explain those three things in a few pages then you need to look at what is in your Quality Manual. Most long Quality Manuals repeat the standard, quote useless quality aspirations and do nothing but provide an auditor audit finding material. What does it say about your quality system if you cannot describe it in a few pages? If it is that complex to describe then it must be equally complex to administer.

A lean documentation approach is about having only documentation that ads value. You have to ask yourself if your long Quality Manual is really adding value or not. Extra pages in a Quality Manual are like extra steps in a process. If you can eliminate process steps to improve the process, then why can’t you remove pages from your Quality Manual to improve your documentation. Complaints about too much documentation may have some merit. All complaints are feedback. If a complaint is repeated over time then is that a trend that may require investigation? Or are you dismissing the complaints as unacceptable and not professional? It’s your quality system. I am just offering ways to improve it…

By: Ismail

Ismail — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 05:10:02 +0000

The purpose of a Quality Manual is to describe the QMS adequately in terms of its operations and parameters. It must be able to convey the QMS framework effectively to its end-users. That’s the objective. It’s not about making it short or long. If you are part of the management team, to complain about the volume of paperwork is unacceptable and not professional. Lean refers to the philosophy of process efficiency, not short Quality Manuals. Just my POV.

By: Torsten

Torsten — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:25:53 +0000

Thanks for putting this article on the web. One complaint about complying with ISO 9001 is that it adds lots of paper work and is hence quite a waste. So you are addressing an important issue here.

By: chris

chris — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:07:54 +0000

ISO requires that your detail how you manage improvement. You must be able to explain your processes, metrics, and responsibilities to an auditor but you must show them your quality manual, six required procedures and 21 records. The required procedures and records are focused on improvement and that is what ISO is all about. All the rest is just the background for improvement.

By: FRANCOIS

FRANCOIS — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:35:42 +0000

I DO THINK ISO 9001 CAN WORK IF ITS IMPLEMENTED CORRECTLY.
LOTS OF BUSINESSES LOOSE THERE FOCUS WHEN IN UNDEVELOPED COMPANY ON MARGINS, DAMAGES, INJURIES, KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT.
IM ON MY WAY OF GOING INTO THIS STUDY AND WANT TO INCOURAGE OTHER BUSINESSES TO MOVE ON TO ISO 9001. MY GOAL IS BEING A LEAD AUDITOR (IRCA)

By: CHERYL FRIEND

CHERYL FRIEND — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:31:49 +0000

I AM TRYING TO IMPLEMENT ISO 9000 IN OUR COMPANY. IS THIS BASICALLY A MANUAL ABOUT HOW WE RUN OUR BUSINESS IN DETAIL? LIKE DEFINITIONS OF HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO.

By: Steve F.

Steve F. — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:46:53 +0000

to Israiell Ali: Is your organization certified to ISO 9001? If so, what might you do differently with your QMS as a result of the information in this article? If not, does this article change your outlook regarding implementing a QMS and getting certified?

My company is considering certification and I think the idea of keeping the Quality Manual brief will make it easier for us to implement improvements to our QMS. Before we commit to this concept of a lean QMS, I thought I’d ask if anyone sees a downside to this method.

By: Israiell Ali

Israiell Ali — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:47:56 +0000

very enlightening.