Mark1 Quality Assurance

We provide Consultant Services and Systems Implementation to assist with:

Implementation of ISO9001:2000
By implementing an efficient method of continuous improvement, ISO Accreditation can help you to outperform your competitors. Few companies actually have continuous improvement methods in place, but the large majority who do have achieved this by introducing an ISO9000 quality system.

ISO9001:2000 is in essence a business management system which is universally understood. It gives clarity and consistency to your business processes and gives you a clearer understanding of customer needs. It also results in a greater understanding of your business, it capabilities and customer perception.

The ISO9001:2000 Standard states that a company or organisation should monitor, measure and analyse processes to determine if everything is working as expected. Both internal and external measurements are necessary but especially customer service and perception.

Frequent Misconceptions about ISO9001:2000 CLICK HERE

Continuous Improvement & Review
Existing business processes need to be reviewed continuously and the two methods commonly used are Management Review and Internal Auditing. The following however should always be considered:

• Does this process serve any useful purpose
• Are there any unintended or undesirable existing outcomes
• Your desired/expected outcomes
• What are the inputs and are they managed
• The easiest way to generate your desired outputs from the inputs
• Does this process impose on others

Approved Suppliers Status
You may need ISO9000 to secure contracts, especially when working for larger companies. However, you need to ensure that you obtain the maximum return on your investment for using it.

It is also possible to implement a management system that conforms to ISO9001:2000 without actual registration.

Outsourcing Quality Management
The majority of SME’s employ a Quality Manager to implement and maintain their quality management system. This is quite often an expensive internal resource and therefore Mark1 Quality Assurance offers a cost effective alternative.

By outsourcing the Quality Management role, a company can implement a Quality Management System and increase continual improvement at a fraction of the cost

Other Services Include:
   - Free Consultation (Heath Check of your current Business System)
   - Custom Designed, User Friendly Databases
   - Internal Auditing
   - Supplier Auditing
   - Control Plans for VCA (Vehicle Certification Agency)

Is ISO9001:2000 part of your business or something outside
ISO9000 has often been perceived as something that sits outside the real day to day business, in reality it should provide the framework on which a business operates and improves.

Registrations to ISO9000 have occasionally been achieved by bringing existing processes into line with ISO9000 requirements. Although this approach has often met the basic requirements of ISO9001, 9002, 9003, the means to improve performance were not always evident. The clear requirement in ISO9001:2000 now require evidence of "Continuous Improvement".

Management Reviews required by ISO9001:2000 are often looked upon as concentrating upon the "quality procedures" - e.g. Document Control, and Internal Audits procedures etc. Management now have to regularly review the effectiveness and effectiveness of the whole business, using the results from various measures.

A common belief is that the management representative (often the Quality Manager), is the person responsible for the ISO9001:2000 system. It should be realised that quality is everyones responsibility, whether ISO9000 accredited or not.

Points to Remember
Keep it simple - focus on the critical processes and the most effective ways of generating them

Continuous Review - The quality principle of "Continual Improvement" means that continual process review needs to be a part of the company and culture

Business efficiency - ISO9000 helps address all the areas that really ought to be considered in any business. It can be of benefit to even the smallest company when implemented correctly.

ISO9000 - You may well have used many reasons for not adopting ISO9000, but there is really no excuse.

Gaining contracts - It is often the case that ISO9001:2000 is a requirement for firms bidding for contracts, when implementing ISO9001:2000 ensure that it truly helps to improve your business at the same time.