Focused Registration

Midwest Quality's trend-setting Focused Registration program is an extremely effective audit-proven 100 day program which guides your organization to registration.  The proof is in the hundreds of satisfied clients who now know it works, because they are now registered.  In fact, it has never failed.  The reason is not magic but effective Midwest Quality professionals combined with the right approach, project management, training, and leadership.

Implementation leads to registration to the standard of your choice, and the NIST Global Standards Program (National Institute of Standards and Technology) site has some good information.  The The Registration Accreditation Board  provides additional insight, as does the American National Standards Institute, ANSI online.  For ISO/TS go to the IAOB.
The Midwest approach to registration is two phased:

1. Describe what you do now in the format of the selected standard, and add only what is essential to be registered. This is Focused Registration. Most locations which can routinely ship material which is not returned have good basic systems, but when people examine systems to document them, they often see opportunities to improve. It is the Midwest recommendation to keep the systems (which have been working for years) for a few more months, so that there are no additional changes to implement just before the registration audit. This approach significantly reduces the risk of over-compliance, i.e., when a procedure is implemented which is not required by the standard and does nothing to benefit the company.

2. As soon as the quality system fully complies with the requirements of the standard, the location aggressively begins to improve their system throughout the organization, and to see improvement in the related results. Improvements are implemented only because they will clearly benefit the organization: the issue of compliance was settled by registration. The implementation team members keep track of their improvement ideas while they prepare, and after registration begin an orderly process of improving performance, which continues forever. The implementation team becomes the Performance team.

Size matters

Different sized organizations will use a different approach to preparation for registration.  These can be generalized as follows:

Type organization	Typical size range	Issues
Tiny	Under 10	Often everyone has a part to play on the team, obviously people wear a lot of hats
Small	10 to 30	A typical team of 5-7 people will share the responsibilities for all the elements
Medium	30-100	A typical team will have around 10 members, some multiple hats, but more specialization
Large	100-300	A typical team will have 10-15 members, some team members will have "sub teams" they lead.
Very Large	300 +	Typically there will be a "core team" of 5-15 people, and then each "department" will have a sub-team handling their affairs.  It is important to ensure that the department managers are involved!

Midwest Implementation Program

The following is a typical implementation program.  The steps have been used successfully with hundreds of clients.  Though the form is similar, each client is treated uniquely to preserve the "magic" which makes a company work.   Call 800 464-8008 or E-mail for a quote.

Select a registrar

Midwest is a consultancy, you need an accredited registrar to be registered.  QSU has an online listing.  Your registrar will want to know what you do, and usually your SIC (Standard Industrial Classification Code).  Check with your accounting folks, they may use it on IRS stuff,  or look at their SIC Code list.

Kickoff Workshop Day 1:

Kickoff Workshop: This visit includes the six hour "appropriate standard Kickoff Workshop" which jells the implementation team, trains the team in the concepts of appropriate standard, and establishes a plan with target dates. And the participants have fun as well!

Status Assessment Audit, day 7-8:

The auditor will assess the quality system with a Status checklist, and can then confirm the status of the quality system. The auditor also spends time with each element champion and ensures that they are headed in the right direction in writing the procedures for the Rough Cut Audit. The auditor and team then establish if any other activities are appropriate, and confirm the timetable for the Rough Cut Audit. A full report is made available to management, and the audit counts as the first internal audit cycle.

Rough-cut Audit, Day 37-38:

The first full audit occurs as soon as a location has completed its procedures, typically 30 days after the status. The auditor determines if the system addresses the requirements of the standard prior to the training and implementation effort. It is hard enough to train people to comply with requirements, and an outright shame to train them to do something which is not in compliance with or required by appropriate standard.

The audit also serves as a complete internal audit cycle, and serves as the basis for the first management review. The location internal quality auditors participate to gain experience under professional guidance, which gets the internal quality audit program off to a good start. The auditor provides a complete audit report and copies of the completed checklist.
The auditor also helps the implementation team with the corrective actions to fix the system deficiencies discovered during the assessment. The location ends up with a complete to-do list, with timing and responsibility.
The audit is also training and practice for passing the registration audit. The auditor coaches the people who are interviewed, and helps train them in how to pass. By the end of the three audits (Rough Cut, Preliminary, Dress Rehearsal), people are ready! The guides who will escort the registration auditors practice that essential skill.

Management Review: Trained auditors guide management through the review process, focusing on the ISO requirements and the leadership opportunity in the Performance process.

Fine-cut (Preliminary) Audit, day 69-70:

The fine-cut audit is scheduled once the corrective actions have been completed, and the location thinks they are ready (typically 30 days after the Rough Cut Audit). The fine-cut preliminary audit will be the second complete internal audit cycle, and determines readiness for the registration audit. Location internal quality auditors participate to improve their skills.

The audit is conducted the same as the registration audit to provide training to the auditees. The auditors continue to coach the people they interview as they determine that the system is in full compliance with the appropriate standard requirements. The guides improve their skills, and the auditors work with the implementation team to ensure that the corrective actions are appropriate and planned.

When the audit finds no significant deficiencies in the location quality system (which is normal at this stage), the date for the registration audit is selected, and the registrar contacted.

Dress Rehearsal Audit, Day 90:
The Dress Rehearsal Audit is held about ten days before the registration audit. The auditor and guides review all the interview questions with the probable auditees to remind everyone what to expect. Any corrective actions from the Fine Cut Audit are reviewed for effectiveness. This audit usually finds details which are easy to clean up, and would have been findings in the registration audit.

Third Party appropriate standard Registration Assessment, Day 100:
There is usually no need for our personnel to attend the registration audit. The location team is in place, and the guides are prepared. The implementation team is ready to complete immediate corrective action for any nonconformances noted by the auditors. Their goal is to have no open findings at the closing meeting so that the auditor recommends immediate registration. We are proud that our customers usually achieve that goal!

Performance Engine Workshop, day 112:
Midwest also provides custom-tailored programs for unusual situations, such as corporate multi-site registrations, or companies who are experiencing real quality problems which they need to fix.  This would be considered consulting.