Clearview National November 2015 - Issue 168 | Page 18

INDUSTRYNEWS

Revised Quality
Management Systems
standard now available
»»ISO 9001, the most widelyadopted quality management systems
standard has undergone its first major
revision since 2000 to incorporate changes
made following feedback from users and
experts around the world. Terms crucial
to understanding ISO 9001 are defined in
ISO 9000*, which has also been revised,
with both standards published on 23
September.
Since 2000, the way we do business has
changed enormously. We have instant access
to information and higher expectations of
organisations we work with, whilst having
to deal with more complex supply chains
and a globally competitive economy. ISO
9001:2015 has been revised to take this into
account.

Some of the key changes include:
• Greater emphasis on building a
management system suited to each
organisation’s particular needs
• A requirement that those at the top of an
organisation be involved and accountable,
aligning quality with wider business strategy
• Risk-based thinking throughout the
standard makes the whole management
system a preventive tool and encourages
continuous improvement
• Less prescriptive requirements for
documentation: the organisation can now
decide what documented information it
needs and what format it should be in
• Alignment with other key management
system standards through the use of a
common structure and core text

‘the way we do business
has changed enormously’
Anne Hayes, Head of Market Development
for Governance and Resilience at BSI, said:
“The importance of achieving, maintaining
and improving quality within organisations,
cannot be emphasised enough. As supply
chains become more complex and productivity
levels increase, so does the need to ensure all
contributing elements are operating to the
highest standard. ISO 9001 is the world’s most
used management system standard for good
reason.”
To order, visit www.shop.bsigroup.com/
ISO9001

Strengthening a
relationship further
»»Quickslide has signed a
supply contract with Edgetech for its TruPlas
rigid spacer as part of the fabricator’s ongoing
programme of consolidating its suppliers
for greater consistency, value and access to
innovation.
Chairman Adrian Barraclough explained: “We
have been consciously reducing the number of
our suppliers for 18 months now so that we can
work more closely and effectively with each of
them as well as draw more products from them
making the relationship far more beneficial for
both parties. It is not so much about the best
deal but the best decision for the business when
it comes to matters such as product quality,
innovation and consistent pricing.
“It means that we are at the front of a queue
when new products are launched and tested
and the TruPlas spacer bar is a prime example
of this. We have always manufactured with a
rigid spacer bar because it suits our product

18 » N OV 2015 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M

and manufacturing techniques and when
TruPlas was launched, it was only natural that
we should be among the first to take it on.”
The move to further strengthen
relationships with key suppliers is an extension
of Quickslide’s philosophy of carrying out as
many processes as possible in house, bringing
benefits like greater control of efficiency,
consistency and quality control.
Adrian added that Quickslide already has
a number of long-term supply partnerships
in place with companies and will be looking
to implement more in the near future: “Our
suppliers benefit from the confidence that our
relationship is long term. Such a structured
approach to procurement means that we can
pass on the benefits directly to our customers
as consistency, cost-effectiveness and minimised
returns so in the long run everyone benefits.”
www.quickslide.co.uk