QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS – The Plan, Do, Check, Act approach
An overview
Over the years when working with organisations who seek to gain ISO 9001 certification, I have found that the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) model is not well understood or utilised. Yet this approach is highly affective when starting from scratch or transitioning to the latest version of a Standard.
ISO 9001:2015 now has the PDCA model linked to the clauses of ISO 9001, which will help make it easier to understand when an organisation is planning its approach in the development and implementation of its quality management system. The model is linked as follows:
Image: Glenn Carstens-Peters
Plan
- establish the objectives of the system and the fundamental processes and resources.
- Clause 4 - Context of the organisation
- Clause 5 - Leadership
- Clause 6 - Planning
- Clause 7 - Support
Do
- implement what was planned.
- Clause 8 - Operations
Check
- monitor and where applicable measure the processes, product and / or services against policies, objectives, client requirements, legal and or regulatory requirements and report the results.
- Clause 9 - Performance Evaluation
Act
- take actions to improve process performance, as necessary.
- Clause 10 Improvement
Over the coming weeks I will be providing further information on implementing Quality Management Systems for your organisation. Here are some general tips to get started:
- Plan carefully
- Take your time in the implementation phase
- Involve / brief / train as many people as you can
- Act on any actions identified to ensure the organisations QMS is right for them, working for them and getting the results they expected.
Christine Brown is founder and managing director of Potential Unlocked, a market leader in the design of management systems that meet compliance and business requirements. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (double major in Political Science and Public Sector Management); RABQSA Lead Auditor, DiSC 5 Behaviours of a Cohesive Team accreditation; Everything DiSC accreditation, TAE 40110 Cert IV Training & Assessment & TAELLN 411.
Due to her extensive knowledge and experience, Christine is trusted by her clients for her patience, understanding and her ability to interpret compliance requirements in a straightforward, uncomplicated way. She regularly facilitates in-house and public workshops, sharing her knowledge of designing simple processes and systems, communicating effectively as an auditor, building and leading teams, and risk management.
Christine’s clients range from small business and start-ups to large organisations and government departments. Covering a broad range of industries, her clients include Boral, BAE Aerospace, Geobrugg, Tenix, West Australian Police, and the Victorian Ambulance Service.
Christine’s new initiative, The Business Performance Program, assists businesses with all major areas of business that are essential for success
For any further information on contracting in an internal auditor to conduct your audits or auditor training please refer to more Audit Tips.
