A novel implementation framework for ISO 9001:2015

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study proposes an alternative implementation method for ISO 9001:2015 by usingknowledge transfer best practice as a basis for the development of an implementationframework. ISO 9001 is by far the most widely implemented ISO management systemstandard with an implementation base of 1.1 million accreditations worldwide, and thebenefits of ISO 9001 accreditation are well established. Despite this, implementation ofthe standard is at times superficial. Unfortunately, there is a gap in literature onimplementation methods for ISO 9001. This study will, therefore, be a valuablecontribution to the ISO 9001 body of knowledge. Organisations seeking or maintaining anISO 9001:2015 accreditation would find the proposed framework useful.Implementations are usually done by means of a checklist gap assessment and actionplan. However, this is consistent with presenting requirements in paragraph form and isnot in line with knowledge transfer best practice. It has been shown that diagrams canassist with learning. Although the environments are very different, organizational learning,and therefore the ability to implement ISO 9001 requirements, might also be more effectiveif the requirements are presented in a diagram or flowchart form. This principle wasapplied in the development of an alternative implementation framework, namely theQuality Framework, which is in the form of an interactive and editable flowchart. Thisapproach promotes the sustainable integration of requirements into existing operations.The Quality Framework is novel in that it provides a consolidated framework of the genericrequirements of the standard in a diagrammatic format that is interactive and allowsmanagers to populate with particulars from their own environments.To test the impact of the framework, the attitude of managers towards ISO 9001 wasselected as a metric and measured by means of a six-point Likert style survey. Theframework was tested within a South African State-Owned Enterprise. Significance testsprovided the following insights in favour of the framework when compared to thecommonly used checklist method. The framework is superior in providing operationalimprovement methodologies and potentially has a positive effect on how managersperceive their operations. In addition, it is potentially less effort to maintain than thechecklist.The sample size for each survey group was 17 and 19 respectively. Despite the smallsample size, the endeavour involved targeting 65 departments in the participatingorganisation with 38 of them responding to the survey. This constitutes a bigorganisational undertaking. In light of these conclusions, it is recommended that theQuality Framework be used for the implementation of ISO 9001:2015.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University