Differences between a Standard and a Management System

A Management System (MS) is based on a standard and is the tool which the organization uses to systematically achieve its management objectives including meeting customer requirements. MS is in effect a framework of procedures (Core process leading to Key and Support processes). The systematic approach has inherent in it the use of the P-D-C-A cycle to ensure continual improvement and efficiency often leading to innovation.

Standards enable organizations to use the model provided therein based on expertise, experience and international consensus. An organization does not have to re-invent the wheel! The use of international standards benefits the organization by providing global management experience and accepted practices without having to learn them by mistakes and tragedies. After all these standards are not prescriptive? They are open for interpretation and so applicable to any organization of any size, producing any product (including services), any sector of activity and so easily adaptable to the organization.

An organization therefore benefits from adopting the standard in terms of achieving greater efficiency, better risk management, ensuring customer satisfaction, providing consistency of production and enabling an organization to keep its promises. Extend it further and the organization will be able to systematically conduct itself in a socially responsible manner. Your organization determines and projects itself by its MS, which bridges the gaps between policy and operating procedures.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MLC 2006: The end of the CDC …

A CDC (Continuous Discharge Certificate) or 'Seamen’s Book' as it is also called, is a very important document for seafarers; it is an immediate recognition of a mariner. A passport holds importance on land but for those on the high seas a CDC holds more value. However, the life cycle of the CDC is probably nearing its end with the ratification of MLC 2006. Article 5 of ILO Convention No. 22 of 1926, states that seafarers shall be given a document showing the period of service performed on each ship. In compliance with this article Flag States issue the Seamen Book or CDC as an Identification document to seafarers. A Seafarers Identity Document (C-185) issued by the Flag State slowly became accepted as the main identity for mariners globally. This eased the cumbersome old method of seafarers carrying several pieces of discharge certificates. The CDC, as a single document, also provides objective service information for the next employer. It is also helpful as evidence of sea...
Read more

Leadership Training by QMII to Teach Leaders of People and Processes as a System

QMII has always brought value to our alumni and clients by looking at the system in its totality and how the investment in the system will affect the bottom line positively. The Top Management plays a very important part in this. Our leadership training is for leaders to lead the people and processes as a system. The Awareness Leaders Workshop (AWS) has stood the test of time and been valued by leaders as they implement the system approach. Effective from February 2014, QMII is launching additional training in leadership. This training has been planned based on inputs received over the years from our alumni including several CEOs and Top Management (TM) representatives of organizations that we have worked with. We are not planning at present to teach managers to be leaders. This is being done in the next stage in a separate training package. This training is not for teaching leadership to managers. Teaching leadership to managers is a completely different course to what our tra...
Read more

Monitoring and Measuring Customer Satisfaction

Monitoring and Measuring Customer Satisfaction is covered under Clause 8.2.1 of ISO 9001:2008: 8.2.1 Customer satisfaction As one of the measurements of the performance of the quality management system, the organization shall monitor information relating to customer perception as to whether the organization has met customer requirements. The methods for obtaining and using this information shall be determined. NOTE Monitoring customer perception can include obtaining input from sources such as customer satisfaction surveys, customer data on delivered product quality, user opinion surveys, lost business analysis, compliments, warranty claims and dealer reports. The question asked to me by a colleague was if then measuring and quantifying customer satisfaction was a requirement, was it good for an organization. My final conclusion and recommendation after in house discussion with John (our Senior VP) is that in simple terms ISO 9001 does not require the organization to quantify ...
Read more