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August 2001

New West Coast Office

After 8 years in Fremont California, NSAI, Inc. recently moved its west coast office to downtown San Jose.  The office suite is located at 84 West Santa Clara Street.  Says Randy Rabitz, NSAI's West Coast representative, "it is only 5 minutes from San Jose International Airport and close to Interstates 880 and 101, allowing easy commuting in the region and nationally.  It is part of our commitment to improve NSAI's infrastructure and will allow us to better service our clients in the region."

August 2001

New IT Infrastructure

NSAI has implemented a very detailed application for project control and management, and task allocation and scheduling.  Said Brigid Hanley, NSAI's IT Manager, "We are satisfied that this system supports our current activities and will also be capable of supporting future developments."

NSAI turned to Siemens Business Services (SBS) for a solution.  SBS undertook a complete implementation of this management application in NSAI.  "We have implemented some very sophisticated technology to allow NSAI to improve communications between its auditors and their offices," said Derek Wilson, General Manager, Siemens Business Services.  "Now auditors can enter information remotely as they move around the country and overseas." 

Mr. Wilson goes on:  "We have completed the latest stage in the 'electronic enablement' of the functions of NSAI.  Under the previous system there would have been a huge volume of paper-based transactions where auditors would fill out forms and send them back to the central office for processing.  With this system, the information can be submitted remotely and the auditors can also check information from the head office."

December  2000

 ISO 9000:2000 - The "New" Quality Management Systems Standard

ISO 9000:2000 is at last upon us.  The new look standard allow users to add increased value to their activities and improve performance by focusing on the processes involved in making a product or providing a service within the organization.

The development of the  new standard involved extensive international consultation to understand users' needs and expectations of the quality management standard.  The revised standard will balance previous experience with quality management system standards (1987 and 1994 editions) with emerging insights into generic approaches, resulting in a closer match between organizational systems and needs.

At first glance the revised standard seems to suggest radical change.  However, closer inspection shows that changes aim to enhance an existing system, with all of the requirements of the current standard (ISO 9000:1994) remaining in place.

Key changes are:

• A single requirements standard ISO 9001:2000.  There will be no 9002 or 9003.
• Standard has new process-oriented structure, i.e., geared to converting inputs to outputs.
• Increased emphasis on the role of top management.
• Consideration of regulatory requirements.
• Establishment of measurable objectives at relevant functions and levels.
• Monitoring of information on customer satisfaction/dissatisfaction as a measure of system performance.
• Increased attention to resource availability.
• Determination of training effectiveness.
• Analysis of collected data on the performance of the quality management system.
• Increased emphasis on continual improvement.
• Emphasis on the 8 Quality Management Principles in ISO 9004:2000.

NSAI has advised all its registered companies of the transition policy.  Companies should use the opportunity at surveillance audits to clarify with their auditor, any issues and concerns that they have in relation to complying with the revised requirements.