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INTERNAL AUDITING – IS IT REALLY NECESSARY? All too often, internal audits are done because ISO 9001 says they have to. Benefits of the programme are lost in the rush to make sure that each documented procedure is followed to the letter and internal audits become a ritual. Such audit programmes not only fail to meet the specific ISO 9001 requirements, but they also miss the opportunity for improvement. So the advice from IRCA is first, decide why you are going to audit and agree with senior management how the organization is going to benefit. If the management system doesn’t already look at the organisation as a system of interlinked processes, now is the time to sit down and develop a process map, working from the mission and objectives set by management down to a level you feel is manageable to audit. Don’t worry if your process map doesn’t fit the system documentation, because now you’re going to audit the organisation, not just the paperwork. If you want to demonstrate compliance with ISO 9001, now’s the time to draw a matrix with the requirements on one axis and your processes on the other; put a tick in the intersections where a process meets a requirement or a cross where you feel a requirement needs to be addressed. Check for any obvious gaps and then check the detail to make sure you are meeting the standard (on paper, anyway). Any remaining crosses become audit findings before a single checklist has been ticked. Finally prioritise the processes you’ve listed and develop your schedule. Be realistic and plan for the resources (people and time) you actually have and remember, you don’t have to cover everything every year. Finally, each audit should have a sponsor, somebody with authority for the relevant process. HOW CAN WE HELP? If you want internal auditor training then we can quote to run a two day course at your premises. Contact bill.fenton@afaq-eta.com ISO 9001 has undergone a rigorous review by industry experts and the updated version is now available. ISO 9001 is the world’s most established quality framework. It is used by around 897,000 organizations in 170 countries worldwide. It sets the standard not only for quality management systems, but also for management systems in general. HOW CAN WE HELP? At AFAQ-ETA we have updated our Quality Management Systems Auditor/Lead Auditor IRCA 5 day course to the new standard and made other improvements. Later in the year we will be running this course at our new Dartford offices. The cost of the course including examination and certification will be £900 + VAT. Enquiries to bill.fenton@afaq-eta.com
The new cards will come in one single colour – platinum - for every programme, and there will be 6 different cards, one for each grade. Based on our customer feedback, this should not only reduce the amount of cards to carry for most auditors, but it will make the IRCA card even more recognizable around the world. It will also benefit IRCA operationally by making it easier when introducing a new programme. The new cards will be first introduced to all QMS auditors who upgrade to the 2008 version of the standard and then slowly over the next few months there will be a phasing process of replacing the current old cards with the new design. Until then, both the coloured cards as well as the new platinum coloured cards will be valid and acceptable as proof of IRCA certification. ELECTRICITY DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES AT AFAQ-ETA CHP, or co-generation as it's sometimes called, is the process of capturing and then utilising the heat produced by generating electricity. Conventional electricity generation by power stations is only around 37% efficient, which means a huge potential source of energy is simply released into the atmosphere as a by-product. CHP can harness this power. In short, CHP delivers great value energy. By recovering most of this otherwise wasted heat, CHP can bring overall energy savings of up to 40 per cent. For an energy intensive development, that can represent a substantial saving, especially when combined with other energy efficiency measures. CHP has been widely recognised as a key measure in helping to reduce harmful emissions of CO2, with some schemes being shown to halve emissions compared with conventional sources of heat and power. HOW CAN WE HELP? At AFAQ-ETA we have a well established open learning course, developed by industry professionals, which is an essential resource for anyone working in CHP/CCGT stations. Covering the construction and operation of main and auxiliary plant used in CHP and CCGT, in addition to how to integrate processes between the two, the course uses open learning methods to allow the candidate to study at their own pace, developing their knowledge within a time frame that suits them. The course examines the relationship between process needs and supplying electricity to the distribution network, as well as explaining the statutory requirements for CHP and CCGT operations, including health and safety. Candidates work though the course, which is split into easily identifiable sections, answering in-text questions throughout and self-assessment questions at the end of each module, allowing them to assess their understanding of individual topic areas. Once they are satisfied that they can satisfy each point on the end of module checklist, they are ready to proceed to the Tutor Marked Assignments. Where possible, these are linked to the candidates’ workplace experience; this enables the candidate to integrate their studies with their daily activities. Our new look CHP brochure is attached to this bulletin – keep an eye out over the coming months for the re-branding on our website, bulletins and other marketing materials – the AFAQ-ETA brand remains but under our new Afnor Groupe identity. For further information contact tyla.davis@afaq-eta.com Take a moment to check out a new ‘special offers’ section on our homepage! You may be able to take advantage of a useful discount!
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IRCA is pleased to
announce the introduction of its new auditor certification cards.
IN THIS ISSUE:
> Internal Auditing - Is it really necessary?
> Electricity Distance Learning Courses at AFAQ-ETA - CHP/CCGT