When your business requires a quality management system approach however the extent of ISO9001 may not be required, then Q-Base provides an excellent alternative allowing less formal structures and systems often associated with small business.
Developed by SAI Global specifically for small and medium sized businesses, the Q-Base Code of Management practice is based upon the ISO 9001 quality system standards.
The Small Business Solution
Characteristically, businesses that have adopted the Q-Base Code:
- Employ less than ten people
- Rarely employ staff who are quality management professionals.
- Are managed by the owner who has a strong hands-on role and spends after-hours on paperwork.
- Rarely have a documented system and procedures manual.
And may be looking to:
- Demonstrate a formal commitment to customer satisfaction through Management Systems
- Subcontract to, or supply companies that have ISO9001 certification
- Subcontract to, or supply government agencies, local authorities, public utilities and wholesale and retail traders
- Start with an entry level management System that can be enhanced to full ISO9001 compliance at a later date
Contents of the Code
There are eight clauses in the Q-Base Code: 2001, each helping to focus on the critical aspects of operating an effective management system:
- Management of the quality system
- Control of documents and records
- Customers' needs
- Purchasing
- Training and work instructions
- Inspecting and control of substandard work
- Continual Improvements
- Association, Industry or other criteria
Cost Effective Confidence
The objective has been to identify the basic management system disciplines that a small business must apply in order to provide a level of confidence to customers and stakeholders in the quality of its goods and services, and in order to achieve the cost savings that may come from effective management systems.
Contact us to learn more about how your company can benefit from our QBase Management System solutions.
