AS9003 / AS9100 / AS9110 / AS9120 / ISO 9001 /  TL 9000 Quality System Consulting

We provide consulting services that improve customer satisfaction by enhancing your quality system and improving operational performance. This is accomplished by interpreting and tailoring the applicable standard to your operating system, and determining the optimum level of documentation and associated controls. This may include process mapping to determine actual process flows and areas for improvement.  As experienced RAB Auditors, we apply the knowledge gained while auditing many types of companies where system and procedural shortcomings have been noted by quickly applying the lessons learned towards improving your quality management system (QMS). 

Our consulting services provide you with the expertise and coaching needed to correctly interpret and thoroughly understand the intent of the particular quality standard and its application in your management system.  These services will help you improve efficiency by determining optimum systemic elements, generate only the optimum documentation required to implement the system, and perform the associated and focused training.

Quality System Certification

Since our consultants are certified RAB QMS Auditors and have many years of experience actually auditing quality management systems for international registrars, we can assist you with your certification projects.  We will help generate a certification plan (using MS Project if requested), perform pre-assessments, report on deficient areas, help generate needed QMS procedural elements, perform needed and focused training, and provide illumination on the process audit approach as a result of the new ISO 9001:2000 based standards and the changes therein.  We will utilize our experience in this field to better serve your needs, and help you obtain your goals in a more timely manner.

AS9003 / AS9100 / AS9110 / AS9120 / ISO 9001 /  TL 9000 Quality System Auditing

As certified RAB Auditors, we perform value-added audits by being more focused on process activities and business results.  ISO 9001/2000 system-based audits are structured to ensure management involvement, continual improvement, customer satisfaction, and may not require detailed checklists.  For quality management systems based on other quality standards, customized checklists tailored to your operating system and procedures may be generated and utilized to better suit your needs.

We can also help you develop your particular internal or external supplier audit program to suit your business needs and specific requirements.

Quality System Certification Preassessments - evaluate your company's compliance prior to customer or registration audits, making recommendations to correct deficiencies and improve your system.  As experienced RAB Auditors who perform audits with international registrars, we apply the knowledge gained while auditing many types of companies where system and procedural weaknesses have been noted, and quickly apply the experience by sharing the lessons learned and recommending applicable improvements to your quality management system.  Also, there are advantages in using independent consultants and auditors to perform these pre-assessments rather than the selected registrar as we are free and able to provide follow-up recommendations, as necessary, to applicable staff functions who would be the persons responding to opportunities for improvement identified in the preassessment report.

Gap Analysis - initial QMS assessments performed to determine the level of your quality system development and compliance to the applicable quality standard, noting deficient areas and missing controls.

Supplier Audits - perform recognized quality management system audits to your or your customer's requirements.  Recent Memorandums of Understanding between prime aerospace companies provide recognition of these audits when performed using qualified and "Experienced Aerospace Industry Auditors" as we utilize.

Internal Audits

Perform and assist with internal auditing, develop programs and schedules, and provide in-house auditor training to applicable standards and internal procedures.

Software Auditing and Surveillance

Audit software suppliers to contract and industry standards such as IEEE 730.  These audits may include verifications for: Software Verification and Validation Plans and Reports, Software Configuration Management Plans, Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews, In-Process and Functional Audits and Tests, Problem Reporting and Corrective Action, Code Control, Records Collection and Maintenance, and Risk Management.  We may also witness and report on internal or external software testing activities, and report on the results.

Documentation

We help your company determine optimum process flows and the minimum required level of documentation such as generating new or upgrading your existing quality manual, procedures, work instructions, and associated forms. These systemic elements are structured to bring your company in compliance with the ISO 9000 family of standards, related system standards, and customer requirements. These and other types of manuals are customized to your specific business needs, quality goals and objectives; and may include documentation for:

If needed, we may also help you consolidate redundant, contradictory, or confusing policies and procedures to those that are easier to understand and implement.  This may include associated forms and reporting systemic elements.

We can assist you in determining root cause analysis of nonconformities, both product and quality management system oriented, and documenting corrective actions.  Verification of corrective actions and effectiveness of these actions taken follow, with documentation distributed internally or reported to applicable customers.

*If desired, policies, procedures, work instructions and associated forms can be translated and published in Spanish, which may be more applicable for some areas and employees.

Implementation

Help meet customer requirements by effectively implementing your quality management system tailored to the applicable quality management standard.  We facilitate implementation efforts by evaluating problem areas and recommending more efficient methods and simplistic approaches, yet satisfying requirements.  We provide management overview training to highlight increased management responsibilities and involvement per the new ISO 9001:2000 revisions; and perform specific operator/inspector training to complete implementation on the shop floor.  We will also generate training records as requested.

SPC

We can help your company implement Statistical Process Control for selected lines or all products and services.  These may include classic Xbar / R Charts, attribute charts, or short run charts for small lot runs of multiple product types.  If desired, these efforts may be combined with TL 9000 Metrics reporting requirements to applicable customers and the TL 9000 Administrator, and continuous improvement programs.  Capability studies may be performed on new or existing processes for process validation, or to focus on control issues in making continuous improvements.

To facilitate analyzing, charting, and reporting statistical data as well as generating policies and procedures, a laptop computer loaded with the Office 2000 package, statistical software, Internet, and other applications may be used on-site.

Supplier Management and Rating

Help implement supplier controls and procedural elements to comply with customer or internal requirements.  These may include generating concise supplier surveys, determining supplier capabilities, performing supplier audits and surveys, establishing "Approved Supplier Lists," and involve suppliers in improving products and services.  New quality standard developments recommend involving suppliers with process planning and continuous improvement.

Specific operator training may be performed to procedural requirements and includes: blueprint reading, ANSI Y14.5, and SPC.  Also, the instruction and materials may be provided in Spanish, as applicable.

Construction Quality, Audits, and Surveillances

We perform construction audits and surveillances of design organizations, contractor/supplier activities, internal or off-site departments, and their compliance to contractual and quality requirements.  Audit construction management such as Resident Engineer activity, engineering consultants, and subcontractors during pre-construction design stages, site preparation, construction, electrical and systems installation and testing, nonconformance handling, and system acceptance verification.

We have audited railcar manufacturers and associated suppliers; prepare reports for management review; and perform corrective action follow-up.  Review contractor quality manuals, procedures, and other submittals to requirements and generate responses as required.

Assist in developing nonconformance tracking systems for status reporting and corrective action verifications.

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