Re: Article on ISO & Quotas

["Allen Woods" <allenwoods@jit-software.com>]

I think one of the limitations of ISO 9000 is that although it recommends
(demands) that organisations have measurable objectives, it gives no
recommendations or guidelines as to how to go about defining and identifying
them,  It is a limitation that is built in because the main thrust of ISO
9000 and the associated audit systems it generates is focussed at the
process level.  As a usable management tool, I would say that ISO 9000 is
"tactical" but not "strategic".

I think that if you are going to apply a structured technique at process
level, like ISO 9000, then it makes sense to look at applying a structured
technique to identify objectives.  I happen to think that tools like the
Baldrige Model and the European Foundation for Quality Management Model
(EFQM) fit the bill.  Both systems rely on the concept of "review to
improve", and both are used as assessment and measurement techniques.
However, a little bit of lateral thinking on the application of either
toolset could be expected generate objective definitions (hard or soft).
The resulting business objectives should be capable of being used to define
or model processes, and from those process definitions, it should be
possible to apply ISO 9000 and meet its requirement for measurable
objectives.

It seems to me that successful use of ISO 9000 depends on a clear idea of
where the standard fits within the organisation business or quality plan and
not just as something done because it is something to be done because
someone thinks it is a "good thing".

Take care

Allen