Starting to build your company's quality management system can be a major hurdle for any company. The PCG ISO 9001 scheme attempts to make the process as painless as possible and appropriate to the size of your company. However, nothing will be achieved without commitment, time and effort.
Following the training you receive your company's EQMS URL, your user name and password to allow you access to your site.
Within the EQMS site you will open up the PCG ISO 9001 Framework template. This template instructs and guides the assembly of the quality management system by explaining the purpose and use of each document or record. It will direct you to copy template structures and folders to build Prospect and Assignment frameworks that stack up depending on the number of Prospects and Assignments your company has to record.
You will be directed to templates that contain instructions for their use and application. The PCG ISO 9001 Framework template will tell you where to store records. Some of these are identified as mandatory and others as optional depending on your company's activities.
The templates will lead you to an Issue Tracker where you will record issues and describe causes and corrective actions. Actions are verified as "effective" and the customer or raiser of the issue accepts that the solution has been effective before the issue can be closed.
All of the inputs to the Issue Tracker are within your company's control except that the PCG ISO 9001 administration can make an input into the Issue Tracker if a customer complains that your company is not complying with the PCG ISO 9001 Code of Ethics. It is your responsibility to address the issue and the PCG ISO 9001 scheme does not act as an arbiter or take any responsibility for corrective action. If a member fails to address a customer complaint of this type they will be removed from the scheme. This is to prevent a few bad apples spoiling the integrity of the scheme.
After using the quality management building blocks and building sufficient records to evidence an effective quality management system has been implemented you can check your company's status using a Pre-Audit Self-Assessment Checklist. The satisfactory completion of this checklist confirms that the company is ready to apply for the internal audit and you can then make application for the internal audit to be carried out.
You then receive a pre-audit questionnaire by email. The purpose of this is to test your commitment to the quality management system. Satisfactory responses will lead to the initiation of the internal audit. This will be conducted remotely and the only involvement will be following notification that the audit has been completed. This will be accompanied by directions for any action that may be necessary to improve and sustain the quality management system.
The internal audit will direct you to apply for the certification audit provided the internal audit is satisfactory. This does not assure you of success at the certification audit that comes next but, it does provide you with confidence to apply. Between the internal and certification audits, you must continue to sustain the quality management system and due diligence is required.
Prior to the certification audit being scheduled you will need to complete an application form for the certification body then agree and sign a contract with them.
The certification audit is a face-to-face event with the certification auditor. You will need to attend at a location that will be given to you. Initially this will be central London but once the scheme develops locations across the UK will be available.
At the close of the certification audit you will be told of any findings and provided your quality management system has been found to be effectively implemented your company will be recommended for certification.
Within six weeks of recommendation you should have confirmation and the ISO9001 certificate will follow.
There are rules for the use of the UKAS "crown and tick" and the Bureau Veritas logos. These will be advised to you by Bureau Veritas.
