Best Project Management Practices in the Implementation

of an ISO 9001 Quality Management System

Helgi Thor Ingason

CRITIQUE PAPER #4
CIS101 - Project Management
Joseph Conrado S. Jacer MIT - 11686901

OVERVIEW OF THE PAPER

ISO 9001 is an international standard that defines requirements for establishing a
quality management system to control and manage business processes with the
ultimate goal of best customer service. How ISO 9001 implementation was carried out
as a project using various tools, as well as the various areas of the organization that
contributes during the implementation.

PURPOSE OF THE PAPER

It is important to understand the practices that best propel in the implementation
of project management, specifically ISO 9001. The Best practices serves as guide in
determining which area of the organization provides best avenue that will hasten the
completion of project implementation of ISO 9001.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

The research is conducted on 21 ISO 9001 certified organization in Iceland.

The implementation of ISO 9001 was treated as a project.
Implementation employ standard project management tools and tool an average of
18months to complete.
Implementation were carried out by following various techniques including the use of
initial plan, a frequent change approach, a combination of both, and a solo effort of a
project manager.
The identified tools and techniques includes initial meetings, requirement analysis,
execution description and team enforcement.
The key success factors were management support and participation, employee
involvement, good preparation and organization.
POINTS OF AGREEMENT

1. Management Evaluation
It would be interesting to know the details of how the three organizations
implemented ISO 9001 in just 6 months. Perhaps, they have the best management
support and participation that drives smooth transition. Robert Jasper (2016), in his
Top 5 Best Practice Tips in Implementing ISO 9001 emphasized management review
and mock audit to determine the readiness of the business prior to ISO 9001
implementation. Jasper further pointed out that Total Management Support is vital for
the success of making Quality Management work for the organization. This top key
factor for successful implementation is critical for the success of making Quality
Management work for the business. Significant result of preliminary preparations can
only be realized when the top management takes part in the evaluation prior to actual
ISO 9001 implementation.

2. Employee Involvement
The implementation of ISO 9001 as a project takes 13 to 24 months, depending
on the approach of the project manager. Within this span, manpower allocation and
turnover affects a significant role for the entire implementation. Janis Priede (2012) in
the article Implementation of Quality Management System ISO 9001 in the World and
its Strategic Necessity pointed out 8 reasons to implement quality management
system. One interesting factor is the documentation of procedures. The author noted
that any new employee can easily assume work assignment when implementation
procedure is well documented.

3. Good Process
The researcher cited that good preparation and organization of the
implementation is considered a key success factor in the application of project
management. In line with this, Yves Pszenica (2001) in the study Project Management
and ISO 9001 An Integrative Approach through Process Management concludes that
the use of process management further reinforces the methodology, with the ultimate
goal of addressing customer requirements.

POINTS OF DISAGREEMENT

1. Project Manager as Key Success Factor

One key factor for success is Good and Effective Project Manager. This is one
factor that I believe the author failed to emphasize in the study. When not included in
the questionnaires choices, respondents will most likely fail to write this as additional
key factor, aside from those mentioned in the questionnaire. Abid Mustafa (2011) in the
article ISO 9001 Certification for MPOs: Is it Worth It? argued that project managers
show project excellence through delivery of tangible accomplishments for the company.
In fact, the result clearly show that in 10% of cases, the implementation was carried out
by the project/quality manager alone.
2. Project Managers Value
Project managers uses governance models, and applies roles and
responsibilities. With project managers accomplishments, top level management
accords project managers value and importance to the company. Abid Mustafa (2011)
supports that through these project delivery efforts by project managers, repeatedly and
successfully, the project manager is automatically recognized as the center of project
excellence throughout the company.

3. Choosing right Project Manager

As previously suggested to include project manager to be included as key factor,
I further suggest that the right person for the position be identified. Strahinja
Stojanovic (2016), in the article How to Choose a Project Manager for your ISO
9001:2015 Implementation pointed out that the person must come from the middle
management in order to be able to assign tasks and have enough authority within the
organization so that the tasks will be carried out as demanded. With the project
managers authority, and track records of accomplishments, the company will be
confident to pursue ISO 9001 implementation.

REFERENCES

Ingason, Helgi Thor. 2014. Best Project Management Practices in the Implementation
of an ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042815036125

Jasper, Robert (2016). Top 5 Best Practice Tips in Implementing ISO 9001.
http://blog.proqc.com/top-5-best-practice-tips-implementing-or-transitioning-to-
iso-90012015

Mustafa, Abid (2011). ISO 9001 Certification for MPOs: Is it Worth It?.
https://www.projecttimes.com/articles/iso-9001-certification-for-pmos-is-it-worth-
it.html

Priede, Janis (2012). Implementation of Quality Management System ISO 9001 in the
World and its Strategic Necessity.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042812045958#

Pszenica, Yves (2001). Project Management and ISO 9001An Integrative Approach
Through Process Management. https://www.scribd.com/doc/23334925/Project-
Management-and-ISO-9001

Stojanovic, Strahinja (2016). How to Choose a Project Manager for your ISO
9001:2015 Implementation.