Internal quality audit

Conducting internal audits is crucial if you want your business to meet its quality objectives. But it can be difficult to find the time for regular quality audits, especially if your company is already stretched thin by the challenges of COVID-19.

Instead of conducting your own internal quality audits, it may be better to enlist the services of an external quality management specialist. We at NPT Management Systems have been carrying out quality audits for many years, with experience in many different industries (include recruitment, defence, medical devices and the marine sector, to name but a few).

Why are quality audits important?

If you have a quality management system (QMS) in place, frequent quality audits are a critical part of maintaining your ISO 9001 certification and achieving continuous improvement.

An internal quality audit should evaluate the effectiveness of your QMS and ensure that all parts of your organisation are following the correct processes.

Why choose NPT for your internal quality audits?

Due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, many businesses are finding that they cannot afford to employ a permanent in-house quality management specialist. To save money, you can instead hire an external quality auditor to conduct audits as and when necessary.

If you need an independent expert to keep you on schedule and make sure you're fulfilling the requirements of your quality management system, NPT Management Systems can help. Internal quality audits are just one of the many services we provide - give us a call on 02380 659 867 to discuss your company's requirements.

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Quality management service

In order to weather the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, companies throughout the UK are currently looking for ways to reduce their costs.

If your business can no longer afford to employ a full-time Qualified Person (QP), we at NPT Management Systems can provide flexible QMS maintenance services to help you plug the gap and complete work only when needed.

Our contract quality management service can be tailored to suit your company's needs. The support we provide can be as frequent or as occasional as you wish, and we have experience working with organisations across a variety of different sectors.

As experienced quality consultants, we are able to deliver a wide range of services, including:

  • Day-to-day QMS maintenance
  • Updates to your quality management system
  • Assistance with internal audits and supplier assessment audits
  • Resolving product quality issues
  • Running improvement programmes and problem solving

Contact NPT Management Systems now to discuss your company's requirements and request a quote for our flexible quality management service.

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Rapid Welding Logo

Rapid Welding and Industrial Supplies Ltd are a welding distribution company offering quality top-grade products, top-quality advice, and top-class services to clients worldwide.

Founded in April 1990, the company has been trading for nearly three decades, and will be celebrating its 30th anniversary next year.

Over the past 29 years, Rapid Welding has become one of the leading welding distribution companies in the world, boasting 35,000 products and supplying to over 100 countries around the world.

With such a storied history, the managers at Rapid Welding were keen to ensure that the business maintained its excellent standing going forward, and they sought the help of NPT Management Systems to achieve this.

Maintaining High Standards

With their iron-clad reputation in the industry and their outstanding track record for customer service, Rapid Welding know the importance of maintaining high standards year after year.

As such, they got in touch with NPT Management Systems in 2018 with 2 distinct goals in mind:

  • Maintain high standards
  • Turns the use of their QMS (Quality Management System) into everyday business

Our consultants were more than happy to oblige, and we accepted the challenge with open arms.

Achieving Results

Within a 12-month period, Rapid Welding had over 7 days of auditing across all 3 of their sites their UKAS-accredited ISO 9001 certification body.

We're delighted to report that zero non-conformances were raised. Furthermore, our fair pricing structure has helped Rapid Welding to reduce their ISO consultancy costs.

A Positive Future

As a result of this initial success, Rapid Welding have continued to seek the support of NPT Management Systems in continuing to maintain their high standards going forward.

Achieve Your Potential

At NPT Management Systems, our goal is to help your company reach its full potential.

We strive to achieve positive, measurable results for you and your business through effective implementation of quality management systems and helping you to achieve ISO accreditation.

With a range of services tailor-made for your needs, we have the ability to take your business to the next level.

Whether you're looking to incorporate a QMS within your organisation or simply improve your existing processes, please contact NPT Management Systems today to find out how we can assist you (and quite possibly save you money in the process).

A Quality Management System (QMS) is the foundation of a high-quality organisation. Despite many firms not possessing significant resources to be able to build a QMS that other businesses can create, it can still be done in an effective way. An influential QMS takes time and effort to perfect, but when done properly, they are able to enhance the quality and economic value of both services and products. They carry with them a number of benefits but are put in place to mainly increase customer experience, which is crucial for some organisations, especially smaller ones where customer retention is vital.

 

Benefits of a Quality Management System

Improved Employee Morale

In order to perform well, members of staff need to be both satisfied and motivated. Clear and identifiable roles, established training processes, accountability of management, as well as staff being transparent with how their duties impact the success and quality of business operations are all part of creating an effective employee/employer relationship. When employees have higher levels of motivation and satisfaction, the rate of staff turnover is reduced which eliminates the processes of re-hiring and re-training which can burden smaller businesses especially.

Enhanced Efficiency

By acquiring the ISO 9001 QMS certification, businesses aim to maximise the quality and efficiency of all their processes. As part of achieving the certification, guidelines and systems will be created for all members of staff to abide by. The results in transactions, training and trouble-shooting issues being dealt with in a clearer and smoother manner, resulting in less money and time being spent on outdated and ineffective practices.

Improved Credibility & Image

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised standard. As a result, it has become the foundation for creating a QMS all around the world, taking the place of many previous requirements. When businesses deal with other businesses, they often look for an ISO 9001 accreditation before considering any sort of partnership. This is particularly the case when companies compete for public sector jobs in a number of countries. The marketing power of attaining ISO 9001 certification should never be underestimated.

Increase Evidence for Decision Making

The need to use evidence-based decision making is an important element of a QMS. By deciding outcomes based on evidence, rather than ‘gut feeling’, resources can be better used to tackle areas of improvement where increases in efficiency and cost-savings can be made. An added benefit is that by constantly monitoring the processes that are being improved, you will be able to tell how much improvement has been made based on data.

If you need advice on a Quality Management System then please do not hesitate to contact NPT Management Systems today.

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Based in Fareham, Hampshire, McWilliam Technology Ltd is a family-run business specialising in windsocks and windsock masts. They supply products to airfields, gas/oil rigs and various other sites all over the UK; McWilliam windsocks are used at most of the country's largest airports (including Heathrow and Gatwick) and they've also been sold to customers in Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and the Middle East.

McWilliam Windsocks

Image source: www.windsocks.co.uk

With clients in so many different locations, McWilliam's directors were keen to make absolutely sure that they were delivering the same high level of quality across all of their work. That's why they contacted NPT Management Systems and asked us to assist them in the planning and implementation of a tailored quality management system (QMS) for their business.

After helping McWilliam Technology Ltd with their QMS, we helped them to apply for ISO 9001 certification. And we are pleased to announce that they were successful: McWilliam now hold ISO 9001:2015 certification, which should give their clients extra peace of mind and stand the company in good stead when it comes to attracting new business.

"We contacted NPT having previously had ISO 9001 accreditation, but we wanted to bring it up to the 2015 version standard. What we found was a lot more than a certificate.

"Instead, NPT developed a fresh QMS that was specific to us, highly practical and user-friendly. Even the sceptical among us here use all aspects of it every day. I have regular suggestions from staff as to how we can develop it, which is a primary goal with ISO 9001.

"The ISO 9001:2015 certification became a by-product of improving our business. We have all bought into the QMS and how it makes our business better for us and for our clients, and this is entirely down to NPT's approach."

- Tom McWilliam, Company Director

If you need help achieving ISO 9001 certification for your business, please contact NPT Management Systems today to speak with one of our experienced quality consultants.