Certification of the company for compliance with standard ISO 9001 (and indeed any standard) - an important and significant stage in the life of the company. I can not say that certification - this is the result of the development and implementation of quality management system. Sometimes, CEO and does not aim to certify the company. For him, it is important to develop and implement a system to get the result of improvements. The certificate itself, without constructed by the quality management system does not have any value for the company. If the certified company, for whatever reasons, it is still necessary, after the certification and starts, in my opinion, the most interesting. Indeed, during the inspection control of the quality management system is necessary to prove not only the viability of the quality management system, but also increase its effectiveness, and the introduction of improvements. Here and useful statistical methods, and selection of new processes, and staff development, etc., etc., etc.. In the meantime ...
The choice of system of certification and the certification body - at any stage to pursue a choice? At the beginning stage of certification? Or when the system is developed and implemented, and is the latest breakthrough? Consider two cases.
Very logical to determine the certification system in the early work on the development and implementation of quality management system. Defined with a set of requirements that will be presented to the system, to determine the regulatory framework, to consider the issue with the client system. It is not always the customer a quality management system is the CEO. Sometimes the customer is a consumer products company outside. And on his choice will depend on what system should be given. What are the requirements the customer will put forward as a priority - safety requirements (food, media), environmental management, industry requirements. Determine the strategic direction of the company. What the future looks CEO, Board of Directors and shareholders. It's also possible to find out the requirements of certification requirements of the certification body. Since the package of documents for certification, in addition to the Guidelines for quality and six mandatory procedures, may require information materials in a single day (or even month) will not be born. And we need to start work on the implementation to begin work on the certification test laboratory, metrological support, enhance customer feedback, etc. By selecting the certification body can work under audit, expected to certification audit. The last remark probably applies to regional specificities. That is, If your company (your company) is far beyond the Moscow Ring Road. Usually, in the regions of our vast country, the auditors of quality management systems - piece goods. And an experienced Deputy General Director for Quality (experienced in terms of certification) is about knows who to expect in the certification audit. He knows the strengths of the auditors, and "corporate identity". And it can properly prepare the audited unit, with an emphasis on the "favorite places" auditors. Some of the auditors worked for many years in industrial engineering department, ie may turn out all the fur inside the PTO, and therefore, suggest improvements there. Someone young enough (relative to the average age of employees) and therefore a fresh look at the situation does not hurt. And then, when all the circumstances elucidated, the possibility weighed the risks calculated, and even appointed a responsible, then start the actual design and implementation of quality management system in compliance with the requirements.
The second option, when the system is being developed to meet generally accepted requirements, such as ISO 9001 , and then choose the certification body. That is, analysis of the quality management system by the management decision involves when it is not a system developed by the company meets the requirements of certification and the certification authority and certification body, together with the certification system fits with their requirements in certify the need for business here and now. Here the choice of auditors will be crucial to passing the company certification.
In my experience was not a simple case in which the quality management system was developed under the requirements of a system of certification (focused on the customer), and in just a month before the change of certification and the customer and the situation within the company, and external factors of the economic environment are not at all friendly . And this is where all the running around. There was no time even to fall into crisis genre. All that work aimed at persuading colleagues - let us live better, let us live a new life, somehow loses its relevance. Need to be convinced all over again. And learn to live differently. And time has not left. A need still to have the habit of working on another, to treat other forms of documents.
You can not just choose another certification body. Need to redo all the documents developed by the Quality Management System. Do not just write, namely to alter. Requirements for regulatory certification can be sooo much different.
The conclusion from all the above one - to decide on the design and implementation of quality management system is in itself a step for the company's management is not simple. Even more difficult to correctly choose a strategy that will lead to success in this company is not a simple matter. And expertise in quality can greatly help.

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