Dive into the challenges facing quality management, including misguided auditor practices, misinterpretations of ISO standards, and the need for more informed processes—insights from an experienced QM consultant.
A new blog post of QM-Impulse was published on Mar 31, 2025 with the original title:
What Harms the Reputation of QM and ISO 9001
Overview:
The article discusses the detrimental effects of misunderstood audit practices on quality management (QM) and ISO 9001 certification. It highlights issues experienced by QM consultants due to inadequate knowledge among auditors and client anxieties over certification.
Core content:
- The article expresses frustration over inappropriate audit practices and misinterpretation of ISO 9001 requirements by some auditors.
- Examples are provided, illustrating how minor interpretational errors lead to costly and unnecessary deviations during audits.
- A call to action is made for quality managers to be well-versed in the ISO standards to combat incorrect audit findings.
- It emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between quality-related and safety-related audit issues to improve QM credibility.
Learnings:
- Readers will understand the need for quality managers to deeply know ISO 9001 to challenge irrelevant audit findings effectively.
- The article outlines the importance of recognizing the difference between quality management requirements and unrelated safety matters during audits.
- It encourages professionals to foster a positive perception of quality management within their organizations by addressing common audit misconceptions.
- Readers will learn about real-life examples illustrating how misunderstandings in auditing can lead to unnecessary expenses for businesses.
The original content was published in German.
