The audit criteria define what the “rules” are. For the sake of this guide, the criteria will be the elements of ISO 14001. A subtle point to note however is that the site’s EMS requirements are also part of the criteria. This means that in addition to responding to the requirements of ISO 14001, the EMS must also respond to “planned arrangements”, or what the organization said it was going to do. In audits, a common response is “the standard does not require such and such detail”.
However, if the site’s procedure does require some specific response, then it becomes part of the criteria. In essence, the auditors are verifying the system not only to ISO 14001, but also to what the EMS documentation states.
How the audit is divided and scheduled throughout the time interval is up to the organization and will be a function of minimizing disruption to site operations and resource needs. The only requirement is that the full audit be completed within the frequency established in the procedures under 14001, 4.5.4. One of the requirements regarding frequency is that how often an area is audited be in part a function of prior audit results. This means that the planned frequency may change with time based on what auditors are finding.
Read more on ISO 14001 Standard at http://www.iso9001-standard.us
Sunday, July 1, 2012
ISO 9001 Quality Management System
An ISO 9001 quality manual details how an organization will actively ensure customer satisfaction through the application of established quality management principles. For this reason, the quality manual is one of the most scrutinised high-level documents present in an organization.
This article discusses a number of issues surrounding the format and content of the manual. There are no requirements defining the format of the ISO 9001 quality manual, most organizations often use a pre-formatted template which is easily modified as the quality system develops. Using a quality template will afford an organization more time to focus on documenting systems and processes with greater accuracy during the implementation phase.
There is often considerable debate about the format and content of the manual. The balance of opinion is divided between those who believe the manual’s format does not matter, as long as, what occurs out in the field complies with the requirements and those who believe the quality manual should say something ‘personal’ about the organization’s approach to quality management.
Read more on ISO 9001 Standards at http://www.iso9001-standard.us
This article discusses a number of issues surrounding the format and content of the manual. There are no requirements defining the format of the ISO 9001 quality manual, most organizations often use a pre-formatted template which is easily modified as the quality system develops. Using a quality template will afford an organization more time to focus on documenting systems and processes with greater accuracy during the implementation phase.
There is often considerable debate about the format and content of the manual. The balance of opinion is divided between those who believe the manual’s format does not matter, as long as, what occurs out in the field complies with the requirements and those who believe the quality manual should say something ‘personal’ about the organization’s approach to quality management.
Read more on ISO 9001 Standards at http://www.iso9001-standard.us
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