I discovered that I am in the habit of starting sentences with this phrase, ‘the thing about auditing….’
I use it when I’m auditing, I use it when I’m training auditors, and I use it when I’m working as a consultant implementing ISO management systems.
Where would we be without Standards? In the UK and across much of Europe we often complain about the standard of products or services – but at least we know, or should do, that there are governmental and organisational Standards in place to guarantee a certain level of Quality and safety.
Health and safety regulations can sometimes seem like an easy target for some tabloids, who circulate unfounded myths about bans on playground conker games and trapeze artists in hard hats, which the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) must then go on to disprove.
You can’t mention FIFA in recent years without immediately mentioning the numerous corruption allegations that follow.
The Scottish Quality Management Centre (SQMC) has been at the forefront of Quality Management Systems (QMS) training, consultation and implementation for over 25 years and utilising advancements in business software solutions is helping to keep them there.
Organisations that implement a Quality Management System (QMS) will benefit from an upturn in sales, reduction in costs and improved operating efficiency.
When East Kilbride-based social housing service provider, The Furnishing Service (TFS), identified a real need to achieve ISO certifications to get the most from business expansion, they entrusted staff training and Quality Systems assessment to the Scottish Quality Management Centre (SQMC).
Following a best ever financial report in 2013, the Scottish Quality Management Centre (SQMC) has surpassed financial targets for a successive year with a 36% increase in turnover for financial year-end 2014.
The ISO 9000 specialist increased its turnover from £250k in 2013 well beyond its £275k goal for 2014 to £340k.
Please be advised that our admin offices are not open on Good Friday or the bank holiday Monday. We will be back to normal again on Tuesday 7th April. However, email will be monitored during this time, and urgent messages replied to ASAP.
While the next editions of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 International Standards are expected to hit the printing presses by the end of the year, it remains vitally important to learn to audit to the version of the Standard that is current, valid and familiar to you. Only the 2008 and 2004 versions, respectively, are in use worldwide today; and that is not going to change overnight!
