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#1 Posted : 04 March 2005 10:59:00(UTC)
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Posted By Robert Wise Hi This is aimed primarily at any small/micro H&S consultants and consultancy practices - I am thinking about those operating as sole traders up to those with maybe 5 or 6 employees. Do any of you operate formal quality assurance/management systems? If you do, are these accredited by external organisations or are they simply internal office procedures etc? Do any of your clients ask for such systems to be in place, or is it assumed that with such small organisations, there is generally a better understanding and knowledge of what work is being carried out and so the need for formal certified systems is not realistically going to add anything to the process? Personally, having worked with QA in larger organisations, I can't see any real benefit, though I'd like to know wht others think.
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#2 Posted : 04 March 2005 11:38:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jason Gould I will not be starting self-employment till January next year but do see some benefits of having a QMS and should I expand as hoped will be looking more closely into the benefits of being externally verified. I do not however think that having a QMS system in place means you are any better than other consultants; too many other factors come into play. If it helps we do a better job then I will do it, if not then no. From my little experiance of QMS, it works if you believe in it, not if you pay for it.
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#3 Posted : 04 March 2005 12:40:00(UTC)
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Posted By Merv Newman No, we do not have any certification and it has never even been mentioned by actual or potential clients I can't really see the point of quality assurance for a small (5 consultants, 2 secretaries, 1 technician) service industry. Either you take pride in the quality of your work, or you don't. The second option leads to bankruptcy. Merv Newman
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#4 Posted : 06 March 2005 13:48:00(UTC)
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Posted By Stuart Nagle Robert. I use the proncipals of QA, and have a system in place. I find it beneficial to have specific systems and checks in place to provide a service to clients and it also acts (via checklists) as an aide memoir to ensure that all bases are covered in dealing with paperwork, letters, reports, invoicing etc etc.... it would also be an aide if expansion is required to ensure that others employed are all working in the same manner and employing the same systems etc.... and provides a vehicle to review those systems and update as necessary 9whilst fitting in with those areas that do not need updating) Regards... Stuart
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#5 Posted : 08 March 2005 12:07:00(UTC)
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Posted By Keith Oakes Robert, Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) have a Small Firms Scheme developed specifically for business with less than 30 employees. This scheme can be viewed on their website http://www.lrqa.co.uk and put QMS into the search facility, it may give you some idea of the system. Regards Keith
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