With knowledge gained in the DO / CHECK / ACT stages you can PLAN the changes to improve the product, eliminate waste, reduce costs.

ISO 9001:2000

The international standard for quality management systems is based on the PLAN / DO /CHECK / ACT cycle.

A Quality Management System which meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 gives your customers confidence that you have: Planned to supply a quality product Made the product from good materials using a controlled process Checked the product to confirm that it meets requirements (both during production and before delivery) Identified problems and corrected them.	Open the checklist as an Adobe.pdf file
ISO 9001:2000 also requires Commitment to continuous improvement Effective training of staff Monitoring supplier performance and customer satisfaction Reviewing potential problems and taking preventive action (if appropriate).	download the checklist as a Windows.rtf file

To find out if your organisation meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 download the checklist and try to answer each question. If you comply with a requirement of the standard record the evidence. If you don't meet the requirement identify what you must do to comply.

If you would like assistance with:

• Developing a quality manual and documenting your procedures
• Auditing the processes
• Establishing objectives and measuring performance

For further information about ISO 9001:2000 and other standards relating to quality management contact the British Standards Institute

Information

To supply a quality product you must share information.
Everyone needs current and accurate information.

SALES Needs information about production costs to prepare accurate quotes. PURCHASING Need to know what materials to buy. PRODUCTION Needs to know what to make. QUALITY Needs access to information and records to monitor supplier performance and customer satisfaction. EVERYONE Needs to receive information about new work methods and action required to solve problems.

Even in a small organisation it is not practical for one person to hold all information about a part of the process. If he is sick or on holiday the work stops. If each activity in an organisation is accurately documented others can be trained or, in an emergency, the written procedure can be used to find out what to do. Procedures and work unstructions should be kept up to date and the current version readily available.

Accurate records make it possible to:

• Find contact details for customers and suppliers
• Identify the current issue of a document
• Select adequately trained staff for a job
• Avoid making the same mistake twice
• Set realistic targets for improvement.

If records can be kept up to date, stored in a format in which they can be easily accessed and made available to all departments where they are needed the organisation will run smoothly and efficiently.

Solutions

To supply a quality product you need an effective database

A bradqual database allows you to maintain the records you need to work efficiently and supply a quality product.

The basic package includes tables for names and addresses of:

• Customers
• Suppliers
• People

Other features can be added if required, including:

• Training records
• Reporting problems
• Document control
• Sales
• Purchasing and supplier performance
• Stock control
• Calibration records and equipment records
• Hazardous and flammable substances

The database can be developed to suit your requirements.

Each user has their own password which allows appropriate access privileges.
The System Administrator has full access to the database and can change other users' access.
Other users may be allowed to read information, request changes, add or edit records.

Personnel records are restricted so that they can only be seen by the person concerned, their supervisor and the designated personnel manager.

Financial information can be restricted to a limited number of users, irrespective of other access privileges.

The bradqual database is developed using FileMaker Pro (the leading database software for workgroups)

Information can be exported as *.mer files for use in form letters or as *.csv files which can be used in spreadsheets. Records can be imported from other database and spreadsheet formats.

To obtain a free single user version of the basic database package

1. Download the bradqual program files
   
   
2. Download the application software to run a program created with FileMaker Developer