60 Seconds with NQA Assessor Karen Whitby

08 February 2016

NQA Quality, Health & Safety and Environmental Management Systems Assessor - Karen Whitby, explains the importance of avoiding tacit knowledge within an organization, plus the ‘make or break’ for companies looking to qualify for new business contracts.

Audits against:

ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001, BAFE SP101

Most common non-conformance:

Calibration and Maintenance is often an area where we find issues that are often overlooked by clients, especially if there is ever a change to staff who control this area. Frequent issues are against Legislation such as LOLER or Pressure Regulations for items like FLT, cranes, slings and shackles and also Compressor Air Receivers. These can easily be added to calendar reminders so as they are flagged up in plenty of time to ensure compliance.

Greatest client belefit gained from ISO certification:

ISO Certification is now frequently required as a condition of Invitation to Tender (ITT) and hence this can be make or break in relation to gaining business. Over the years 9001 seems to have become more of an expected standard to have from large to small organizations, and may well be the edge a business has over its’ competitors.

However, certification isn’t just about securing sales, it also assists with monitoring costs and helps to standardize and streamline various activities within the business and of course, encourages continual improvement.

Top tips for getting the most out of your system:

Share and document knowledge, so that you are not exposed to unnecessary risk, should staff leave the organization. Ensure that systems are accessible to the Management Team and not just under an individual’s access rights.