Reader questions and feedback on ISO 9000 to succeed in business. Also refer to excellence, quality, TQM, standards, international, success, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on ISO 9000:
Simple Plan
The following 2 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
ISO 9000 for a Trucking company
Question
September 2, 2001
I am interested in obtaining more information about how to become ISO 9000 Certified. I work for a trucking company in Arizona who has no knowledge of where to begin this process. For instance, I noticed that Step 3 involves training personnel to become internal auditors. How & where can we get this training? Any information you could send me by U.S. mail or e-mail would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
KC - USA
5250
Answer
The whole idea of ISO 9000 is to make sure your company documents the important things it does, and that it then follows whatever guidelines it sets.
You should have somebody in charge of your quality assurance for your company. Tasks might include assurance that the trucks are in good condition and that the customers are satisfied with your services.
Once you set up a top-level quality policy manual, a list of procedures that tells who is responsible for what in your company, and a way you keep your records, you would want to have someone within the company occasionally check that documentation is properly checked. for example, if you had a safety check sheet for each truck, the auditor might see that they are being filled out.
The auditor helps to make sure the company is following what it had said it would. There is training for auditors, but in many cases it just takes someone who isn't afraid to nose around.
I would suggest you purchase a book or two on ISO 9000 -- perhaps from Amazon.com. It is worth getting the latest facts on the process.
Check the American Society of Quality (ASQ) ISO 9000 (www.asq.org) site for good information.
Also, it would be good to send someone to a local ASQ meeting. It is a good place to find out about registrars in the area and such. Check either the Phoenix or Tucson chapter sites.
Best wishes in your efforts.
Concerning loopholes
Question
August 3, 2004
Hi there, I'm an accounting student and I have a few questions which I would like to get your opinion on.
1) What does it mean to find loopholes and how would finding loopholes be potentially valued by the management of a company?
2) Explain how auditors could be participants in seeking loopholes when Auditing Standards and GAAP require the pursuit of truth and fairness in financial statment presentation?
3) Expalin how truth and fairness in financial reporting is related to the concept of professionalism?
Thank you in advance for your help and comments
Kind Regards
DJ - New Zealand
3913
Answer
Although laws, rules and standards are meant to make things run better, they also may hinder what a particular company wants to do. There is no such thing as a perfect law, so clever people can find exceptions or ways around the law to their advantage. These are called loopholes.
Companies seeking ISO 9000 certification or preparing for a tax audit will hire auditors to check their system. Since the auditor is hired by the company, he or she may also know ways to hide items or get around the law. There are dishonest people in every profession, and audting is no exception.
In the United States there is the recent Sarbanne-Oxley Act, which requires companies to verify their honesty in financial disclosures. It also protects companies from simply being careful. This Act was a result of the Enron scandals.
Truth and fairness in financial reporting are related to character and not necessarily professionalism. There are gangsters and thieves who are quite professional in their trades.
Summary
Hopefully, this reader feedback has helped provide information about ISO 9000 issues.
Always do your best
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