Saturday, February 9, 2013

What happens if breakdowns are identified in the Mangement System and nothing is done about them?

In a Quality, Safety, or Environmental Management System it is required that if system breakdowns are found that Management correct them in a timely manner.  A recent headline tells us how one company in California failed to do this (according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ) and several lives were lost.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said in a statement "that it ordered all three buses operated by Calif.-based Scapadas Magicas LLC to stop operating because they pose an imminent hazard to public safety." Wow that is harsh and deservedly so.  39 people got on that bus with certain expectations: fun, a tour of Tijuana, Mexico and safety.  Safety for the passengers was given in


Even more daming is the statement "In a January 2013 compliance review conducted by transportation regulators, breakdowns were identified in the company's safety management systems, but "Scapadas Magicas failed to take necessary action to remedy its safety management deficiencies," the order said."


Also found during their review was that its drivers weren't properly vetted for qualifications. This was another breakdown of their Management System; although it wasn't clear whether this system breakdown was found internally or not. Regardless their management system was clearly broken and now they are told that they can't operate.





Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Does having ISO bring credibility?

Sometimes your personnel and professional life merge.  Today I was online shopping for shotguns and in the text for Mossburg shotguns was a reference that they were ISO 9001:2008 certified in the description of the product.  One of my customers is a supplier for firearms industry.  But I don't usually see ISO advertised on products marketed to consumers.  Anyway - back to point of my post.  Marketing is saying "Look these guys are ISO so you can believe what they say".  Not sure whether their customers know what ISO is or not.  Here is the text and how ISO gives companies credibility. "Mossberg claims that these tubes include a synthetic seal t...See More