ISO 9001 Compliance

Six Sigma techniques and methodologies are quite different from other quality improvement techniques because they are not self-sustaining in nature. Goals and objectives that can be derived through Six Sigma depend on a number of variable factors and inputs such as the quality of deployment and the existing organizational culture.

The Process

The Six Sigma audit process is similar to the assessment process employed during the deployment stage because only qualitative checks are conducted during the audit. The audit process involves the use of questionnaires and checklists that allow auditors to assess the existing status of business processes, which is then compared with predetermined standards or desired results. The standards are very specific and are clearly defined at the commencement of the deployment phase.

With the proliferation of companies claiming to conform to the requirements of this international Standard, we might well come to believe that product and service quality has reached its peak and every customer is satisfied with the performance of their ISO 9000 registered supplier. On the other hand we could have simply misunderstood the purpose of this Standard and the registration process. Maybe the Standard isn't about quality of service or product.

A small group of employees who come together to discuss with the management issues related to either quality control or improvement in production methods form a Quality Control Circle (QCC). These employees usually work in the same areas, and voluntarily meet on a regular basis to identify, analyze and solve their problems.

It is said that 95% of the problems in workshops can be solved through quality control tools. The Japanese have experienced this! The quality control tools useful for QCCs are Pareto Diagrams, Cause-and-Effect Diagrams, Stratification, Check Sheets, Histograms, Scatter Diagrams, Graphs and Control Charts. Also, logical thinking and experience are a must for solving problems.

For virtually every business, an ongoing quality improvement process is a key component to improving operations and employee morale. Businesses that make a concerted effort to continuously improve operations ultimately gain a competitive edge.

Market dynamics constantly change and clearly defined QIP (Quality Improvement Program) forces key personnel to take an objective look at business processes that are essential to keeping your company profitable.

Businesses that want to improve overall quality are often faced with the difficult task of selecting the most effective quality improvement technique from available options such as Six Sigma and ISO 9000. For selecting the most suitable technique, businesses will have to look at the merits of each of these techniques and determine their applicability in the context of existing business processes. This is necessary because there is a vast difference in the concepts of both the approaches, which need to be identified before selecting any one of the approaches.