Dealing with Nonconformities Made Easy

Nonconformities Made Easy

In this LHConsulting blog post we will talk through non conformity / nonconformities and explain them in simple terms with the hope of making compliance easy!

This is specifically relevant to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018.

So grab a coffee and lets dive in…

problem, solution, help, nonconformities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is a Non Conformity?

A non conformity in terms of quality management refers to a deviation from a required standard, specification or documented procedure.

How is this relevant to ISO standards?

Clause 10.2 of ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 requires organisations to identify, investigate and address non conformities effectively.

So how do I do that in simple terms I hear you ask!

If you come across a nonconformity then below are the steps that need to be followed…

Step 1 – Know what nonconformities look like.

The types of non conformities which may be identified as part of the above standards are as follows:

  • Internal issues
  • Supplier issues
  • Customer issues
  • Potential issues
  • Incidents

Step 2 – The next step is to identify the root cause of the non conformity.

When we use the term root cause we are referring to main cause of a problem. Examples of root causes are as follows:

  • Lack of resource
  • Lack of training and awareness
  • Human error

Step 3 – Once the root cause has been established your next job is identify the correction and corrective action.

A Correction is something that we put in place to immediately rectify an issue.

A Corrective action is something which we put in place to prevent the issue from reoccurring.

Example scenario: A customer complains that following an order for a football he recieved a cricket ball. As a result of this an investigation was undertaken which confirmed that within the warehouse the cricket balls were incorrectly stored in the football pick location. This led to the wrong product being picked and sent to the customer.

Correction: A replacement product needs to be sent out to the customer.

Corrective Action: Further training & awareness sessions for warehouse staff. The company is looking to implement a more stringent goods out inspection.

Step 4 – Review the status of any nonconformities to check whether it has been addressed effectively.

This is the final step and likely the most important. Make sure you sit down on a regular basis to review any non conformities which remain open.

I really hope this post helped!

LHConsulting is an ISO Management Systems and Legislation Support Consultancy based in the West Midlands.

We support businesses and individuals to make compliance easy.

All of our services cover the breadth of the UK and we work with all types of businesses including those based in small towns and major cities including London, Birmingham and Manchester. 

To help with your nonconformities get an ISO 9001 system today 

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