Case Study – ISO 9001 & TL 9000 Certification – RAD Data Communication

“Using the Pinnacle Lean QMS® provided checks and measures to help us do what we were already doing well, and offered us ways of doing things we hadn’t previously considered.” Don Swanerbury, Operations Quality Coordinator Outcome:     RAD Data Communications, Inc. uses Pinnacle’s Lean QMS® methodology to achieve TL 9000 and ISO 9001 certification, build a […]

Integrated Management System

On the “Integrated Management System – Lean BOS” page of our website I discuss the emerging trend in and demand for integrating quality, environmental, health & safety, regulatory, and business improvement objectives into a single business operating system (BOS).  On this page I state that “today’s integration objectives are generally clear: companies want a management […]

Improvement Initiatives Are Like Diets

All diets work while one is dieting.  However, once the desired weight loss is achieved the vast majority of dieters go back to their normal eating habits and lifestyle.  The result is that all diets are statistically long term failures because the fundamental issue of a lifestyle changes was never addressed.  But we never hear […]

Cost of Consulting & Certification

We have been getting a lot of inquiries from companies that are trying to budget for consulting and implementation of an ISO 9001 based quality management system (QMS).  These inquires include every QMS standard:  TS 16949, AS9100, TL 9000, ISO 13485, and even ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.  The last inquiry went like this:  “I […]

ISO 9001 Q & A

The Director of Operations of a perspective client asked me to address some of the concerns, questions, and reservations that his executive leadership has about implementing ISO 9001. He has been trying, unsuccessfully, to convince his executive leadership that developing a formal quality management system based on ISO 9001 was critical to the organization’s growth […]

Job Descriptions Done Right

Job descriptions, or whatever you may call them, are frequently an afterthought for most organizations.  They are often created on an as needed basis.  Typically, job descriptions are developed to assist in recruiting and employee reviews.  I have even seen employees write their own job descriptions in an effort to clarify their role in the […]

OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001 & AIAG

On February 24, 2009 the AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) issued a formal statement, e-mailed to all of its members, endorsing the implementation of a formal environmental management system (EMS)  based on ISO 14001.   Fortunately, unlike Toyota and some other customers, they stopped short of requiring it of automotive suppliers.  They then went on […]