MFA

QUALITY

ISO9001:2008

Worldwide the number of companies becoming certified to the ISO Quality Management Standard continues to increase. In 2008 MFA have assisted 4 companies in Ireland to achieve certification to ISO 9001:2000. Companies have embraced the standard to enable them to develop and implement a process of on going improvement through the standards model PACD- Plan, Act, Check, Do.

Companies benefit from a root and branch review of its processes, the formalising of "the right way" to perform its business systems and an ongoing review of identified problems which cause the customer not to recieve the agreed level of customer satisfaction. This ,combined with a systematic process of internal auditing, ensures the organisation is proactive in its management of all aspects of the business.

The recent introduction of a revision to the 2000 standard has led to minor changes in the requirements of the standard. The new ISO9001:2008 does not contain any new requirements for organisations. It introduces some clarifications of pre-existing termology and as a result there will be a seamless transfer to the new standard made during routine surveillance or renewal audits. These changes also improve the standards consistency with ISO 14001:2004, the Environmental standard, and SR OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

Although the revised standard does not contain new requirements organisations should review the impact of the clarifications and identify whether they have any effect on the details of the implemented managemen system.

The accepted implementation plan from ISO and IAF (International Accreditation Forum) for the updating to ISO9001:2008 is as follows:

1. Certification to ISO9001:2008 will only be issued after the publication of ISO9001:2008 and after a routine surveillance audit or re-certification audit against ISO9001:2008
2. One year after publication of ISO9001:2008, all certifications issued(new and re-certifications) must be to ISO9001:2008
3. Two years after publication of ISO9001:2008, existing ISO9001:2000 certification will not be valid.

Individual certification companies have plans for the updating of their clients certificates.

MFA can assist you in:

Making the change to ISO9001:2008.

Manage your internal audit process to gain improvements from your systems and processes.

Faciliate your corrective/preventive action procedure to ensure that value adding improvements are developed and implemented throughout the organisation.

Manage your Quality Management System on an annual agreed fee basis which will include all aspects of the implemented system through to annual certification maintenance.