ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 for tech start-up
SouthWestSensor provides advanced microfluidic sensor solutions for the water industry. Based in Southampton, SWS are part of the SKion Water Group. Their mission is to bring the lab to the water, to monitor the health of our surface waters and to improve efficiency of water treatment processes, all aimed at protecting this most precious resource. They supply sensor probes, online analysers and monitoring solutions for key water pollutants including nitrate/nitrite, ammonium and phosphate.
SWS were looking for an ISO consultant with an understanding of science, technology and sustainability, and the ability to implement ISO standards in an early commercialisation company scenario as a precursor to growth. Our credentials were carefully scrutinised, including track record, selection interview, client references, and our own ISO 9001 certification. Our ability to speak the language of an early commercialisation technology business and make the ISO standards work on a practical level, were key criteria in the selection process.
2
ISO Standards.
0
Nonconformities.
QFactorial Service offering
Implementation
From day one it was made clear to the SWS management team that QFactorial would not be asking them to implement anything that we ourselves would not be happy to implement as a resource-constrained small business. In fact, at the first meeting we used our own ISO 9001 management system to demonstrate and validate the kind of documentation and controls to be expected.
Following our trade-mark Gap & Synergy Assessment with Action Plan (GSAAP), two QFactorial consultants worked collaboratively with the client’s team to map the business processes, identify the environmental impacts, populate our unique Live Trackers workbook, write bespoke procedures, create a Laboratory Manual and capture the whole system in an integrated Management System Manual. Staff training, internal audit and management review prepared the SWS team for third-party certification, with improvements to business, design, production and after sales processes being driven through the tried and trusted PDCA (plan-do-check-act) routine.
When it comes to getting ISO certified, there is no substitute for commitment and enthusiasm. SWS were overflowing with both attributes. In addition, all parties were focused on making the management system fit the business culture and model – every document, every control had to have a useful operational purpose, not just getting certified. We have completed over 100 projects, with some great clients, but the quality of collaboration has never quite reached this level. Kudos to SWS for exemplary execution, a flawless certification audit, and we had some fun along the way!
SWS were recommended for certification to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 for quality and environmental management systems.
Some comments from the auditors:
“I like how you’ve set up the system – it’s a good way of doing it. The live trackers are effective, and your processes are all easily evidenced. To have no nonconformities at Stage 2 is unusual.“…and…”Everything was slick, evidence always to hand. This is how audits should be conducted.”
Some comments from the SWS team:
“It’s good to be acknowledged for doing the right things.”
“The process has been fun.”
“I’m already looking forward to next year” – (it’s not often we hear that in a closing meeting!)
Working with Q-Factorial has been very pleasant and productive, right from the beginning. In the first meetings they put great emphasis on understanding the business, before helping to build the management system around it. Throughout the whole journey it always felt that rolling out the management system was value adding, rather than just a tick box exercise to get through the audit. Internal audits and Management reviews were scheduled at the right time to leave us fully prepared for the stage 1 and 2 external audits. With QFactorial's help, including comprehensive staff training, quality and environmental considerations have become key pillars of our business operations and set us up well for continued growth. In terms of consultants, they were simply a perfect fit for us, cannot recommend them highly enough.
