An effective, well-implemented Quality Management System (QMS) enables organizations to improve their bottom line through increase performance visibility. A QMS that takes a complete life-cycle approach to quality management will track all of the nonconformances, corrective actions, workflow processes, tasks, documents, and resources associated with quality in real-time. In addition, best-in-class organizations continue to improve and strengthen their quality management system after the initial implementation. In an effort to help organizations within the automotive industry to facilitate this improvement The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) recently announced they will be offering two courses designed to help organizations strengthen their Quality Management Systems.
The first course is “Effective Audit Findings for Continual Improvement.” Using audit findings as a method of identifying problems with a QMS and facilitating improvements based on these findings is an effective way to strengthen your QMS. But sometimes these findings are missing criteria, lack objective evidence, can be difficult to interpret or lack a focus on continual improvement. This course, intended for internal auditors, management representatives, second-party auditors, and certification body auditors will shine some light on how to make the most of your audit findings. As the AIAG website describes, “this course uses a practical approach to explain how to develop and document effective findings and nonconformity reports. Using workgroup activities and hands-on participation, instruction will help quality managers and organizations improve the quality of the findings written by internal auditors.”
The second course is “Mastering the Process Approach Step By Step.” As ISO standards require all service and manufacturing industries to understand, implement and monitor a QMS using a process approach, this course intended for internal auditors, management representatives, process owners, process implementers, quality personnel, certification body auditors, and second-party auditors will outline the necessary steps to master the process approach. As the AIAG website states, “Whether your organization processes foods, manufactures aerospace components, assembles automotive modules or delivers furniture, you need to understand the fundamentals and benefits of the process approach if you plan to become, or are currently certified to an ISO standard.” This course walks you through the process development tools demonstrating how to use them and explaining the difference between an elemental approach with threads-through clauses as opposed to the process approach with process audit trails.
Both courses run from 8 AM to 5 PM and are being offered on multiple dates beginning this June and running until December. Visit the AIAG’s website at www.aiag.org for specific dates, costs and location.
