Consulting Services
QIA is a full-service consulting, auditing and training firm based in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1994, we have a client base that spans the United States, Mexico, and South Asia. We are prepared and ready to help your organization overcome the challenges of transitioning your management system to the latest standard.
We offer many transitional services to support your organization, such as Gap Analysis, Documentation Creation \ Modification, and Employee Training. Our experienced consultants can address the robust needs of any organization, small, medium or large and QIA has the experience and resources you can trust.
We will conduct our consulting to your preferences, and we will customize our methods to meet your needs and guarantee 100% satisfaction. It is our experience that the following three methods of consulting are in the greatest demand:
Supervisory Consulting
In this type of an engagement, we will help develop your organization’s plan and execute a system according to the standard of your choice. QIA’s consultants will train, coach and mentor your staff, and guide you to a successful certification. We will perform a gap analysis, train your staff in requirements of the standard, organize and lead the project organization, structure the planned system, and help you implement the project plan.
We will supervise the project to ensure an efficient and successful implementation. We can also guarantee successful certification from an accredited registrar, assuming your organization executes recommendations provided by our consultants.
Turnkey Consulting
Most of the time organizations do not have the manpower or the time necessary to design and implement a system. In those cases, we perform all the services outlined above in Supervisory Consulting plus we do the system documentation. Again, we will guarantee successful certification from any accredited registrar of your choice, assuming your organization executes recommendations provided by QIA’s consultants.
Custom Consulting
QIA can provide custom consulting to your organization’s preferences onsite or on a remote basis when you may require specific assistance on a project. We can for instance, go on site to perform a gap analysis and help your organization prepare a project plan. We can review documents on a remote basis and provide advice via web meetings or email. Remote consulting, however, is best when used as a follow-up after site visits.
ELEVEN STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF A MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The following eleven steps compose a comprehensive methodology for the generation and implementation of an effective and efficient quality management system. The estimates are based on a typical manufacturing company with approximately 150 employees or larger. Smaller companies should follow the same steps, albeit with a lower level of effort.
1. Gap Analysis and constitution of a project team (approximately 1 day)
– QIA will perform a survey audit of the organization to establish a baseline of the current quality management system in place. The idea is to establish the gaps between the requirements of the standard and what is presented by the organization in its QMS.
– QIA will work with the organization to constitute a project team with a team leader that will work closely with QIA for the entire duration of the project for its successful completion.
2. Kick-off meeting and training (1.5 days in batches)
The kick–off training will introduce the following topics to the team members so that the client can help QIA develop a most efficient and effective quality management system:
i. Introduction to ISO 9001:2015.
ii. Interpreting the standard to the organization’s application.
iii. Designing and developing the system for the client.
iv. Implementing the system
3. Quality Management System development
QIA will draft the most efficient and effective documentations required to support the quality management system in accordance with the ISO 9001:2015 standard in association with the client. The documentation includes the quality policy manual, procedures manual and instruction manual supported by forms/formats/records. The policy manual, non-proprietary in nature, shows how the company operates the quality management system and how the requirements of the standard have been addressed. The procedure manual presents in detail how each business function needs to be performed to meet the requirements of the business and standard. While QIA drafts both the policy and procedures manuals, the client normally prepares the instruction manual (necessary to supplement skills and competence of the people doing a particular job), as the substance of the instruction manual is highly proprietary.
4. Training in the quality management system
QIA will help organize training of the concerned personnel of the client in the new quality system.
5. Implementation of the quality management system
QIA will help the client in implementing the new systems by reviewing the progress on a regular basis and offering suggestions for improvements.
6. Internal Audit Training: (2-3 days program)
QIA will train a group of client’s staff to carry out internal and supplier’s audit to ensure that the effectiveness of the quality management system is maximized while it is audited periodically.
7. Simulated full audit
QIA will conduct a full audit of the entire quality management system to examine its adequacy with respect to requirements of the standard and with regard to the correctness in implementation. This audit will help the client in taking appropriate corrective action for facing certification audit. This will also act as a training tool for internal auditors on how to conduct audit.
8. Corrective actions/Preventive actions
QIA will help client install an effective program for initiating and implementing corrective / preventive action aimed for continual performance improvement of the organization.
9. Management review
QIA will assist client to conduct the management review meeting effectively to obtain maximum benefit out of the quality management system, just not to satisfy the auditors.
10. Preparation for certification audit
QIA will help the client to prepare for encountering the auditors so that they can manage the certification audit smoothly.
11. Certification audit
QIA will stand beside the client to help interface with the auditors by supplying the required information, whenever it is necessary. QIA will then help client answer satisfactorily the raised objections/clarifications to the external auditors so that the certification can be issued to the client.
At QIA, we believe a company does not fully utilize the benefits of an ISO 9000 system if the focus is only on certification. However, we understand that most companies need that due to market pressures. Therefore, we help fulfill this need, but also encourage companies to go beyond, and get the full benefits. We have developed a methodology for this and consists of going stage by stage up the ladder. This methodology is explained briefly here:
Silver, Gold, Platinum Levels:
Silver: Meet minimum requirements to achieve and maintain certification.
This is the level recommended for most initial certifications.
Relates to “Basic” level of Quality
This is usually the system most companies have, and is focused almost solely on satisfying the audits, which are normally done to the minimum requirements of the standard.
The operating philosophy is reactive and defensive.
Gold: Go beyond minimum requirements, plan on really using the system to run the business
Relates to “performance” level of quality
The operating philosophy here is proactive, the audit is almost a non-event as far as the need to maintain certification is concerned.
The company understands that the Standard gives a model on how to maximize their effectiveness and efficiencies.
Platinum: Decide to strive to be the best in class, try to get “wows”, use the best technologies available that make sense for the business.
Relates to “exciting” level of quality
The operating philosophy here is to be the best and use the most powerful tools available.
QIA can help you navigate your way up the chain for greater productivity and profitability.