Its only taken me 43 years,......

[stephen]

......but it looks like I'm finally becoming responsible: My new little venture (50% partner in ISO9000 Consultation Co.), has taken off, and we have just inked a deal with our first client!

What we do is, go to an existing business that wants to improve their management system. Using ISO9000, we perform a 'gap analysis', showing what they have in place that fits ISO9000 minimum requirements, and what they are lacking.

Then, we offer:

1) ISO9000 Assesment audit

2) ISO9000 Familiarization training (both managerial, and company wide)

3) ISO9000 Quality Manual

4) ISO9000 Quality Policy

5) Flow Charts

6) Work Instructions

After all that has been done, we then provide another "pre" assesment audit, with an evaluation (ready for certification, yes/no).

Once ready for a certification audit, we set the date with the registrar, and we show up as representatives, to assist the companies ISO9000 representative.

"If" all goes right, it is aproximately 6 weeks of partime work, with a very respectable "consultation fee"!

My partner and I figured out, that if we just did 4 a year, we will earn more in 24 weeks (partime hours),than we do in 52 (fullyime hours)!

Our company is called "MBA ISO9000 Specialist's"

Hopefully by the end of the year, we will have a website up and running. I'm pretty excited about this!

[reverbbb]

GREAT NEWS Stephen!

I'll be praying that your company takes off and becomes the career blessing that you have always wanted.

BTW, how much detail are you going to overlook ( :wink: ). It is nearly impossible to get a company to be 100% compliant - 100% of the time. Of particular interest to me, is the engineering documents and the change order trail.

You just need to balance your persuasion for compliance with the willingness of the client. I have seen a couple of cases where the ISO consultant was fired (or their recommendations were ignored) because they would not bend a little. I realize that you are obligated to enlighten your clients, but I think you might find fairly quickly with some clients, that they had no idea it was going to cost them so much for implementation and the culture shock of it all (people hate change).

[stephen]

but I think you might find fairly quickly with some clients, that they had no idea it was going to cost them so much for implementation and the culture shock of it all (people hate change).

How true, how true!

The one real important thing that we cover in the initial meeting is: "Are you, the prospective client, committed to making changes in your business model, to make real effective change, in incorporating ISO9000 Cerification, to improve your overall quality management system, or do you just want ISO9000 as window dressing to generate sales?"

Based on their response (which usually takes a couple/few follow up questions; cause they still dont understand), we decide if we want to take them on as a client, or not. Hey, we have to concern ourselves about our "track-record", as far as getting clients certified on the first pass.

Now, to get that certification, you have to pass the audit, 100% compliant, meanig : No catagory 1's (major) or Catagory 2's (minor) non-conformances (NCN's). While it is true, that the audit does not look at 100% of the QMS (Quality Management System), and only a percentage, in that percentage audited, it must be 100% compliant.

The hardest thing is, once you get a company to pass the certification audit, they tend to get complacent, and then the next audit, get several NCN's. Staying consistant, and avoiding complacency, is the biggest hurdle for the company.

[TheViking]

............. Good luck and may God be with you and guide you also in your business.

Ludwig