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Reasons to Join an Association

Joining a trade or professional association isn’t always a no-brainer. Getting involved with an association takes time and effort that goes beyond their day-to-day work.  In addition, the additional cost must be justified.

Stay Current with Changes

Membership helps you keep a finger on the pulse of how the manufacturing climate is growing and changing. The resources available to members help individuals and businesses to stay on top of emerging trends, and the information needed to stay current.

Continue your Professional Development

Often Associations provide courses to help a professional stay current within their discipline.  They help professionals and businesses maintain compliance with regulatory changes as well as stay on top of breaking industry trends.  These will give you a competitive edge over your competitors. Some associations offer certification programs to distinguish you as a leader.

Access to Resources and Information

Associations often make relevant resources and information readily available to members. This results in increased access to consistently updated resources that pertain to your industry. 


 
 

Your certification on the web

ASR's Verify Badge system sends your customers to the ASR site to verify your certificate directly.  When a visitor to your site, clicks on the badge your company name is embedded to a call to the ASR site.  They then see:
  • Your Company Name
  • Standard
  • Certificate ID
  • Certificate Status
  • Issue Date
  • Expiration Date

These individuals clicking on the verify badge are very interested potential customers.   We track the requests.

If you are interested in a list of visitors looking for your certificate, or if you need help, contact  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..



 

 
Private Training Website for Internal Auditors

Ingentius creates private internal training website.  It is affordable for every size organization.  Contact us for a custom quote.

Internal audits are an important tool for continual improvement in your Management System (QMS, EMS, et.al.).  It is critical that your internal auditors maintain and improve the skills to properly review your processes and records, to identify strengths, weaknesses, and problems in your Management System.

To ensure competence, it is important your internal auditors are properly trained.  After completing a course, they are tested and receive a certificate to show Objective Evidence of their competence.

Online Standards Training via Ingentius.com has Internal Auditor Training packages for these standards:
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.

How to Prepare for an Audit


This is a general discussion about some ways to prepare for and improve your audit.  It applies for an internal audit or a third party audit.  Here are three actions to help your company prepare for an audit:
  • Review the audit process
  • Prepare Employees
  • Consider automation
Review the audit process

Do you know the steps in your audit?  A third party audit should follow the same process as your internal audit.  Generally speaking there are three parts:
  1. Opening Meeting
  2. Auditing Processes from your QMS
  3. Closing Meeting
The opening meeting reviews the steps, defines the timeline, and delineates the scope. During the audit, your Quality Management System (QMS) is the guide for the audit.  Each process’ documentation is reviewed, if appropriate, staff members are interviewed.  The auditor takes notes and may determine if  further evaluation is necessary.

The auditor may find non-conformances for specific processes.  These are documented and reviewed during the closing meeting.  In addition, the closing meeting sets the expectations and tasks to remedy any non-conformances.


 
 

Verify your certification on the web


Many have taken the opportunity to put ASR's Verify Badge on your website.  This is an excellent way to distinguish your company's commitment to quality.  As you know some companies would "fake" their certification by placing a doctored certificate and displaying it as true.

With ASR's Verify Badge, your customers are sent to ASR's site to verify your certificate directly.  When a visitor to your site, clicks on the badge your company name is embedded to a call to the ASR site.  They then see:
  • Your Company Name
  • Standard
  • Certificate ID
  • Certificate Status
  • Issue Date
  • Expiration Date
Here is a list of ASR clients that have taken advantage of the system:
  • Amptech
  • Butler Plastics Company
  • Detroit Tube Products
  • DSSI
  • GEMCO Manufacturing Co., Inc.
  • Hand Industries
  • iAutomation
  • Jonal Laboratories
  • KAF Manufacturing Company, Inc.
  • Knapp MFG., Inc.
  • Malone Specialty Inc.
  • Master Metal Engineering
  • MegaWatt Lasers, Inc.
  • Mid South Precision
  • MPS PLASTICS INC.
  • NS Controls, Inc.
  • Om Group Inc.
  • Peak Manufacturing
  • QAS Solutions, LLC
  • Resource International, Inc.
  • Rexair LLC
  • State Heat Treating Company
  • Trims Unlimited LLC
  • Winona Pattern & Mold
If your company is not on the list, be sure to contact your marketing department or the group that manages your website.

The individuals clicking on the verify badge are very interested prospects.   We track these clicks. 
Since the program began, we have saved over 600 entries. 

If you are interested in a list of visitors looking for your certificate, or if you need help, contact  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..



 

 
Private Training Portal for Internal Auditors

Ingentius creates private internal training website.  This private site works best for any combination of:
  • More than 5 Internal Auditors
  • More than one location
  • One or more standards
It is affordable for every size organization.  Contact us for a custom quote.

Internal audits are an important tool for continual improvement in your Management System (QMS, EMS, et.al.).  It is critical that your internal auditors maintain and improve the skills to properly review your processes and records, to identify strengths, weaknesses, and problems in your Management System.

To ensure competence, it is important your internal auditors are properly trained.  After completing a course, they are tested and receive a certificate to show Objective Evidence of their competence.

Online Standards Training via Ingentius.com has Internal Auditor Training packages for these standards:
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.

Audit Expenses


ASR works hard to keep expenses under control. Our auditors will continue to try and find the best rates they can for car rentals, hotels, and airfare. However, the days of $300 a week car rental and $400 airfare tickets seem to be over.
 
When we schedule an audit, this is what we do to reduce costs to our clients:
 
  • We try to use auditors that are local to your area
  • We try to schedule your audit in conjunction with other clients.  For example, if we can schedule your audit in Indianapolis IN week one, then another audit in South Bend IN, the travel costs can be reduced.
  • We try to schedule as far out as possible to get better transportation rates.
  • We continually look to find top-notch auditors in more locations so they are closer to our clients.
 
NOTE: if your organization has an existing relationship with a hotel chain, a car rental company, or an airline and can use this for an ASR auditor, we welcome your help.  In addition, if your organization uses a travel agency and gets better rates, please contact ASR and/or the auditor.


 
 

Marketing Your Certification


One of the things that your auditor asks during each audit is how ASR’s customers are using the ASR or accreditation body logos to market or advertise your certification. They may look at the website and ask questions related to statements there. The reason for this is because there are some logos that can be used with certain parameters and some that cannot.
 
In addition to a logo, your auditor may refer to a “mark” which has a different usage. ASR only has a logo at this time, but ANAB has both a logo and a mark. The ANAB mark on your certificate means that ASR’s management system has been inspected (audited) and meets the criteria enabling us to issue a certificate against the listed standard and identifies that ASR is accredited to certify management systems against ISO/IEC 17021.
 
A logo is something that may be copyrighted and typically specific permission is required to use it, but once this is obtained, it can be used to advertise certifications or other awards.  A mark is a stamp of approval, if you will. Have you ever seen this symbol on a consumer product tag before?




ASR has created a system to add credibility to your certified management system.  You place a badge (like the one displayed here) on your website. When one of your customers or prospects clicks on the badge, we show your certificate number, standard, status, issue date, and expiration date.

It is straightforward - Click the "Verify" badge, follow the simple directions, and complete the form.  You can also copy and paste this link [https://asrworldwide.com/get-a-badge]. We email you a snippet of HTML code.  Just copy and paste it on your website, in your email signature, on LinkedIn, or your social media site.
 

 
Private Training Website for Internal Auditors

Ingentius will create your own private internal training website.  This private site works best for any combination of:
  • More than 10 Internal Auditors
  • More than one location
  • One or more standards
It is affordable for every size organization.  Contact us for a custom quote.

Internal audits are an important tool for continual improvement in your Management System (QMS, EMS, et.al.).  It is critical that your internal auditors maintain and improve the skills to properly review your processes and records, to identify strengths, weaknesses, and problems in your Management System.

To ensure competence, it is important your internal auditors are properly trained.  After completing a course, they are tested and receive a certificate to show Objective Evidence of their competence.

Online Standards Training via Ingentius.com has Internal Auditor Training packages for these standards:
 
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.

Observe and Inquire
The Auditor’s Two Best Friends!


By Rand Winters, ASR Senior Auditor

As an ASR auditor and audit packet reviewer, I review dozens of completed audit packages (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 13485) each month.  Based on these reviews, I thought clients might be interested in sharing with their internal auditor staff two “best friends” that can help improve audit effectiveness and reduce potential risk:

Witness employees doing their jobs.
 
Ensure corrective action responses and customer complaints reflect more than the detected incident, but how can the issue be prevented in the future and reduce any potential risk.

Opportunity 1 is an invitation to observe and chat with operators.   As internal auditors walk through an organization’s quality system, they should be observing the workflow.  Auditors should be asking employees for corresponding work instructions or process maps associated with the job at hand and follow along as the operator executes the job.  This auditor observation activity allows verification that each step of the work instruction is performed accordingly and opens the door to questions if a step is missed or added.  

Findings need to be written as a nonconformance to ensure appropriate corrective action and implementation as well as reduce potential risks.

Remember – it is OK to write a nonconformance as it can lead to a positive system improvement!




 

Share Your Certificate

You have spent hundreds if not thousands of man-hours developing your management system in order to comply with a standard.  You did this to have a competitive advantage or to comply with your customer's requirements.ASR Certified Badge ISO 9001

So, how do you turn that cost into a benefit?  What are the best ways to tell others?  How do you market your new, certified, management system?

Display the certificate: Most organizations know to hang their certificate in the reception area or add it to their signage on the building. However, an underused and powerful strategy is to exhibit the certification mark on uniforms, exhibition stands or your corporate vehicles. You can encourage your sales staff to carry the certificate in their portfolio and add the logo to their name badges.

Your Standard Verification Everywhere:

  • Offline. Put it on ALL printed materials such as letterheads , stationary, business cards, flyers, handouts and other literature.


 
Online Training News from Ingentius

Corporate Account: Pick your standard to train your internal auditors, your quality personal and all management system stakeholders. Train all Stakeholders:

Packages can include training 1 or up to 250 employees at a low monthly cost.

  • Create your own process & Procedure Training Classes
  • Include courses for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, AS9100, IATF 16949, ISO 45001
  • Provide Certificates of Competency for Employees & Auditors
  • Track how employees scored on procedure or process competency
  • Assign employees to tests to by department, category or by test name
 
Use discount code: asrclient25 for a 25% discount.


 
Custom Training Packages

If you maintain multiple standards and you need to train your Internal Auditors, you can pick the standards you need and a custom package will be created for 5 or more Auditors.
   
 
 


 

We are here for your success.
Call us or contact us if you have any questions.
Phone: 888-891-9002

 

Effective Checklists


By Rand Winters, ASR Senior Auditor

This month we address effectiveness of the audit checklist.

In the old QMS days, internal auditors planned their audit around a list of standard questions used again and again.  That all changed when standard writers created the process-based quality management system. 

Organizations adapted to process-based audits developing relevant questions for each internal audit.   Recently, I am beginning to see a slow move away from specific internal audit questions and a return to generic questions.

Internal auditors seek to confirm conformance and system effectiveness.  As processes change, generalized questions may not adequately capture the changes which in turn could impact the effectiveness of an organization’s quality system performance and customer satisfaction.

Use of a generic checklist does not fully benefit an organization. An effective audit program begins with a review of the definition of a process as called for by ISO 9001: 4.4 - Quality management system and its processes.

ISO 9001 4.4 states that an organization shall determine the processes needed for the quality management system (QMS).  Internal auditors begin audit planning by reviewing their organization’s QMS process map selecting processes to audit. This forms the foundation for the audit schedule.


 
 

Marketing Your Certification


One of the things that your auditor asks during each audit is how ASR’s customers are using the ASR or accreditation body logos to market or advertise your certification. They may look at the website and ask questions related to statements there. The reason for this is because there are some logos that can be used with certain parameters and some that cannot.
 
In addition to a logo, your auditor may refer to a “mark” which has a different usage. ASR only has a logo at this time, but ANAB has both a logo and a mark. The ANAB mark on your certificate means that ASR’s management system has been inspected (audited) and meets the criteria enabling us to issue a certificate against the listed standard and identifies that ASR is accredited to certify management systems against ISO/IEC 17021.
 
A logo is something that may be copyrighted and typically specific permission is required to use it, but once this is obtained, it can be used to advertise certifications or other awards.  A mark is a stamp of approval, if you will. Have you ever seen this symbol on a consumer product tag before?




ASR has created a system to add credibility to your certified management system.  You place a badge (like the one displayed here) on your website. When one of your customers or prospects clicks on the badge, we show your certificate number, standard, status, issue date, and expiration date.

It is straightforward - Click the "Verify" badge, follow the simple directions, and complete the form.  You can also copy and paste this link [https://asrworldwide.com/get-a-badge]. We email you a snippet of HTML code.  Just copy and paste it on your website, in your email signature, on LinkedIn, or your social media site.
 
 
Internal Auditor Training Benefits

Internal audits are an important tool for continual improvement in your Management System (QMS, EMS, et.al.).  It is critical that your internal auditors maintain and improve the skills to properly review your processes and records, to identify strengths, weaknesses, and problems in your Management System.

To ensure competence, it is important your internal auditors are properly trained.  After completing a course, they are tested and receive a certificate to show Objective Evidence of their competence.

Online Standards Training via Ingentius.com has Internal Auditor Training packages for these standards:
 
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.

Non-Conformances & Corrective Actions

Many organizations struggle with effectively addressing nonconformances and the related corrective actions. Here is some information on non-conformance reporting and corrective actions that might be helpful.
 
We have several downloadable documents to help. Please click here, go to our website and download them.
 
Remember a nonconformance can be considered both a risk and an opportunity.
As a risk, you may be experiencing an immediate quality issue that needs addressing now. The opportunity is to find a root cause and its solution resulting in higher efficiencies and primarily prevent a recurrence.
 
Correction / Containment
 
There may be a need to have an immediate response; to get the quality back to an acceptable level. This buys time. If the nonconformance is related to production, depending on the severity of the nonconformance, correction may also require the containment of product in-house, sorting/inspection, rework/repair, and notification to the customer. After the "quick fix," you move to the root cause and ultimately the corrective action stage.
 
Nonconformance Reporting
 
Let's look at a couple of examples to show the 3 distinct parts of a nonconformance:
  • Nonconformance Statement
  • Requirement
  • Evidence
 Review the downloadable document for examples.   (Here is a link to the article with the download links).
 
Nonconformance Statements
 
When writing a nonconformance, identifying the process that failed within the system helps drive efforts towards systemic analysis and actions.
 
If the nonconformance isn't geared towards the process, corrective actions may not be systemic.
 
Clear nonconformance statements are the first step.
 
Requirement
 
The requirement typically cites the standard clause and or the requirement detailed in the process description
 
Evidence
 
The evidence is the missing record, the equipment setting, or inspection finding.
 
Root Cause Analysis

As your Registrar, ASR does not dictate what methodology you use; we do, however, require that you submit the results of the analysis along with the finalized root cause(s). For your Management System's Objective Evidence, we require the completed F-3000 or NC CARA file depending on the standard audited.  This is the logic-based methodology to determine what, how, and why an event or failure happened.
 
Read more for the rest of the article and the document downloads.




 

Clauses 7.1.6, 7.2 and 7.3 require you to show objective evidence that your staff has Organizational Knowledge, Competence, and Awareness.

Be sure your Management System Stakeholders are trained on the standards.
 

If you are preparing for your next audit (1st time or re-certification), please consider this... 

For a limited time, the Online Standards Training site, Ingentius.com is offering full access to every course for every standard (8 month subscription).
 
The cost is $1,500 to access 18 courses.
Click here to sign up for this package.
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.
 
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Classifying Non-Conformance Course Update.

We have completed and published a new course on Non-Conformances intended for the Internal Auditor and Management System Stakeholders.

The course agenda contains:
  • Why is classifying non-conformances important
  • Where non-conformances start
  • History
  • Definitions
  • Decision Tree
  • Examples
  • Writing the non-conformance
We are also offering this course standalone or bundled with our course in "Effective Corrective Actions."

Click to Read More About:
  1. Classifying Non-Conformances
  2. Effective Corrective Actions
  3. The 2 Course Package
 

Remote Audits - Sharing What Works

During these COVID-19 months, many ASR clients have experienced the ups and downs of a remote audit, especially the shop floor portion of the audit.  
 
This experience prompts ASR to share ideas from ASR clients regarding best practices or solutions that have worked well to improve floor audit communications without asking the employee to move to a quieter location.
 If your organization has experienced other solutions for floor communication during remote audits, please share them with ASR so we can pass them on to other clients through our website and newsletter.





 

Clauses 7.1.6, 7.2 and 7.3 require you to show objective evidence that your staff has Organizational Knowledge, Competence, and Awareness.

Be sure your Management System Stakeholders are trained on the standards.

To ensure competence, it is important your management system staff (internal auditors, and all stakeholders) are properly trained. 

After completing an online course, they are tested and receive a certificate to show Objective Evidence of their competence.  These certificates can be used as Objective Evidence during your internal or 3rd party audits.
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.
 
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Our mailing address is:
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ASR's Certificate Verification Service

Our Certificate Verification Service is being used by our clients.  This system adds credibility to your certified management system.  You place a badge (like the one displayed here) on your website. When one of your customers or prospects click on the badge, we show your certificate number, standard, status, issue date, and expiration date.

If you haven’t registered, we encourage you to participate.

If you need help installing the code on your website, our web expert can help.   You can send an email to:  Jeff Honeyager  (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

There are some rules to market logos.  This link takes you to an article defining those rules.


 
 
Promoting Your Certificate

Here is a list current as of March 16, 2021.  These ASR clients understand the value of promoting their commitment to the ISO standards and their management system.  Visit our client's website and see how they are displaying the ASR Certificate Badge:
If you need any additional information, go to: https://asrworldwide.com/get-a-badge

The images used with our Badge system are fixed.  If you need a custom graphic that better matches your site, we can recommend our webmaster's service.
 
Decision Tree – A Tool for Internal Auditors

How does an ASR auditor evaluate a major or minor nonconformance?  

In the past, ASR auditors had a paragraph in their guidance documents.  Example – a minor would be classified as one-time failure that did not impact the entire quality system.  A major would be a breakdown in the organization’s QMS such as 70% of the measurement instruments were not calibrated.
 
In an effort to improve the evaluation of a major or minor nonconformance, ASR’s senior lead auditor, Bart Solomon, developed Decision Tree.  This tool is now being used by ASR auditors across all QMS, environmental, automotive, aerospace, and occupational health and safety standards.
 
The Decision Tree provides stronger guidance for third-party auditors to evaluate the parameters of a major or minor non-conformance.  However, this evaluation method can be a valuable tool for internal auditors to use as they determine what is producing a non-conforming condition.

Read the article on our website and download the Decision Tree Document in PDF format and read the decision tree examples.



 

Major / Minor NCRs


Below are four examples of Non-Conformances.  Find one that may mirror an issue you may have and read the full treatment on our website.
 

Example 1 - There's a failure mode missing from the PFMEA – first the auditor has to determine if product quality is affected; the auditor determines if this is simply an incomplete PFMEA and the inspection/test plan will find the NC condition or is the inspection/test plan also inadequate.  READ MORE
 

Example 2  - In auditing calibration, the auditor finds a gage that is out of tolerance (OOT) and there is no reaction to this OOT condition.  READ MORE

Example 3 - In auditing Maintenance, the auditor finds a few pieces of production equipment that are past due for PMs.  READ MORE
 

Example 4 (ISO 14001) -  This example occurred in a facility that contained 1,000 gallon holding tanks of oil and other chemicals used in the firm’s equipment and processes.

In auditing the chemical storage area, the auditor observed oil leaking from a tank to a grate which appeared to be flowing to a sewer outlet and perhaps to the municipal sewer system.  READ  MORE

 
 

Clauses 7.1.6, 7.2 and 7.3 require you to show objective evidence that your staff has Organizational Knowledge, Competence, and Awareness.

Be sure your Management System Stakeholders are trained on the standards.
 
ISO Standards Training Benefits

To ensure competence, it is important your management system staff (internal auditors, and all stakeholders) are properly trained. 

After completing an online course, they are tested and receive a certificate to show Objective Evidence of their competence.  These certificates can be used as Objective Evidence during your internal or 3rd party audits.

Online Standards Training via Ingentius.com has Training packages for these standards:
Be sure to use discount code: ANEW2021  for a 30% discount
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.
 
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Our mailing address is:
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Decision Tree – New Tool for Internal Auditors

How does an ASR auditor evaluate a major or minor nonconformance?  

In the past, ASR auditors had a paragraph in their guidance documents.  Example – a minor would be classified as one-time failure that did not impact the entire quality system.  A major would be a breakdown in the organization’s QMS such as 70% of the measurement instruments were not calibrated.
 
In an effort to improve the evaluation of a major or minor nonconformance, ASR’s senior lead auditor, Bart Solomon, developed Decision Tree.  This tool is now being used by ASR auditors across all QMS, environmental, automotive, aerospace, and occupational health and safety standards.
 
The Decision Tree provides stronger guidance for third-party auditors to evaluate the parameters of a major or minor non-conformance.  However, this evaluation method can be a valuable tool for internal auditors to use as they determine what is producing a non-conforming condition.

Read the article on our website and download the Decision Tree Document in PDF format and read the decision tree examples.



 

Major / Minor NCRs


Below are four examples of Non-Conformances.  Find one that may mirror an issue you may have and read the full treatment on our website.
 

Example 1 - There's a failure mode missing from the PFMEA – first the auditor has to determine if product quality is affected; the auditor determines if this is simply an incomplete PFMEA and the inspection/test plan will find the NC condition or is the inspection/test plan also inadequate.  READ MORE
 

Example 2  - In auditing calibration, the auditor finds a gage that is out of tolerance (OOT) and there is no reaction to this OOT condition.  READ MORE

Example 3 - In auditing Maintenance, the auditor finds a few pieces of production equipment that are past due for PMs.  READ MORE
 

Example 4 (ISO 14001) -  This example occurred in a facility that contained 1,000 gallon holding tanks of oil and other chemicals used in the firm’s equipment and processes.

In auditing the chemical storage area, the auditor observed oil leaking from a tank to a grate which appeared to be flowing to a sewer outlet and perhaps to the municipal sewer system.  READ  MORE

 

ASR's Certificate Verification Service

Our Certificate Verification Service is being used by our clients.  This system adds credibility to your certified management system.  You place a badge (like the one displayed here) on your website. When one of your customers or prospects click on the badge, we show your certificate number, standard, status, issue date, and expiration date.

If you haven’t registered, we encourage you to participate.

If you need help installing the code on your website, our web expert can help.   You can send an email to:  Jeff Honeyager  (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
 
Coming soon

The next phase of this system will send you the names and emails of the people inquiring about your standard - this is an excellent follow up for your sales department.
 

Clauses 7.1.6, 7.2 and 7.3 require you to show objective evidence that your staff has Organizational Knowledge, Competence, and Awareness.

Be sure your Management System Stakeholders are trained on the standards.
 
ISO Standards Training Benefits

To ensure competence, it is important your management system staff (internal auditors, and all stakeholders) are properly trained. 

After completing an online course, they are tested and receive a certificate to show Objective Evidence of their competence.  These certificates can be used as Objective Evidence during your internal or 3rd party audits.

Online Standards Training via Ingentius.com has Training packages for these standards:
Be sure to use discount code: ANEW2021  for a 30% discount
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.
 
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ASR Named a Gold Level Certification Body

IAOB, the International Automotive Oversight Bureau, during its 2020 AIAG Quality Summit, recognized American Systems Registrar (ASR) for its high-performance standards in meeting IATF and IAOB expectations to automotive suppliers worldwide. 
 
IAOB commended ASR for its “hard work and dedication to continual improvement in the processes that are critical to support the automotive  scheme and third-party certification.”
 
ASR was one of seven IAOB partners receiving top honors in 2020.



 
 
New Tool for IATF 16949 Audits

The IATF has mandated that all certification bodies begin using a new tool for IATF audit reporting and nonconformance management, called the Common Audit Report Application or CARA. This tool will standardize reporting across the industry. This means your report will look different, but more importantly, the process for answering nonconformances will change.
 
In the past, your ASR auditor gave you a MS Word Nonconformance Report; now, your auditor will give you a file that you must import to a special CARA website where you will respond to the nonconformance. Once you’ve added your response, you will export the updated file and email it to the auditor for review, comment and closure.  There is no username or password required at this website and there is no need to enter an email address or sign up in any way.



 

ASR's Certificate Verification Service

Last month we rolled out our Certificate Verification Service.  Many have taken advantage of it.  If you haven’t, we encourage you to participate.
This system adds credibility to your certified management system.  You place a badge (like the one displayed here) on your website. When one of your customers or prospects click on the badge, we show your certificate number, standard, status, issue date, and expiration date.

It is straightforward - Click the "Verify" badge, follow the simple directions, and complete the form.  You can also copy and paste this link [https://asrworldwide.com/get-a-badge]. We email you a snippet of HTML code.  Just copy and paste it on your website, in your email signature, on LinkedIn, or your social media site.

If you need help installing the code on your website, our web expert can help.   You can send an email to:  Jeff Honeyager  (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
 
Coming soon

The next phase of this system will send you the names and emails of the people inquiring about your standard - this is an excellent follow up for your sales department.
 

Clauses 7.1.6, 7.2 and 7.3 require you to show objective evidence that your staff has Organizational Knowledge, Competence, and Awareness.

Be sure your Management System Stakeholders are trained on the standards.
 
ISO Standards Training Benefits

To ensure competence, it is important your management system staff (internal auditors, and all stakeholders) are properly trained. 

After completing an online course, they are tested and receive a certificate to show Objective Evidence of their competence.  These certificates can be used as Objective Evidence during your internal or 3rd party audits.

Online Standards Training via Ingentius.com has Training packages for these standards:
Be sure to use discount code: ANEW2021  for a 30% discount
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.
 
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Certificate Verification System


By ASR

You have spent hundreds if not thousands of staff-hours developing your management system to comply with a standard.  You did this to have a competitive advantage, comply with your customer's requirements, or improve your operations.
  • So, how do you turn that investment into a benefit?
  • What are the best ways to tell others?
  • How do you market your certified management system?
ASR has created a system to add credibility to your certified management system.  You place a badge (like the one displayed here) on your website. When one of your customers or prospects clicks on the badge, we show your certificate number, standard, status, issue date, and expiration date.

It is straightforward - Click the "Verify" badge, follow the simple directions, and complete the form.  You can also copy and paste this link [https://asrworldwide.com/get-a-badge]. We email you a snippet of HTML code.  Just copy and paste it on your website, in your email signature, on LinkedIn, or your social media site.

Coming in 2021:  The next phase of this system will send you the names and emails of the people inquiring about your standard - this is an excellent follow up for your sales department.

 


 
Be sure to check the new 50% off training discount coupon below.

ISO 45001 Findings

ISO 45001 (Occupational Safety & Health) is unique in that it requires both conformance and compliance. 
 
Organizations are required to analyze their hazards and risks.  Additionally, they are required to develop plans and implement measures to mitigate risks to employees and the business that will provide for continuous improvement in the work environment.
 
The compliance portion of ISO 45001 requires third-party auditors to ensure organizations have in place an OS&H system to evaluate compliance, plus steps to correct issues that have been determined to be non-compliant by the organization.
 
As ASR clients begin to implement ISO 45001, we want to share some of the nonconformance issues clients have experienced:
 
Documentation Findings



 
Your Certificate Good for Three Years
 
Every so often clients contact ASR expecting to receive a new certificate
following receipt of their surveillance audit report and approval letter.
 
Certification is for three years.  Clients achieving certification for the first time with ASR receive a certificate.  If a client is recertified at the end of their three- year contract, they are issued an updated certificate including a new expiration
date.
 
ASR issues a client an approval letter plus the audit report following successful completion of a surveillance audit.    A new certificate is only issued following a surveillance audit should the client’s name, address or scope change.
 

Clauses 7.1.6, 7.2 and 7.3 require you to show objective evidence that your staff has Organizational Knowledge, Competence, and Awareness.

1) Be sure your Management System Stakeholders are trained on the standards.

2) Contact Ingentius.com to use an internal training portal.  It contains internal auditor training plus documents and your own tests for your specific procedures and processes.  Document that all your staff is trained and competent.

 
ISO Standards Training Benefits

To ensure competence, it is important your management system staff (internal auditors, and all stakeholders) are properly trained. 

After completing an online course, they are tested and receive a certificate to show Objective Evidence of their competence.  These certificates can be used as Objective Evidence during your internal or 3rd party audits.

Online Standards Training via Ingentius.com has Training packages for these standards:
Be sure to use discount code: 2020ASR  for a 30% discount
(good until the end of the year)

We have a special code for 50% off any multiple employee course.  Use this code:

2020SEEYA
 
 
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.
 
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Audit Findings

By ASR Staff

It has always been ASR’s belief that clients can benefit from the sharing of auditor findings.  This article reviews some of the top AS9100 findings written this year by ASR’s aerospace quality management system auditors and ASR’s environmental management system auditors.  
 
The AS9100 nonconformances highlighted below account for 28% of the total AS9100 findings written this year by ASR aerospace auditors:
 
10.2.1 & 10.2.2 Corrective action – 10 NC’s written that included lack of verification; root cause analysis not identified; lack of document sign-off/acceptance.
 
8.4.1, 8.4.2, 8.4.3 Supplier development - 18 NC’s written regarding flow-down to suppliers not effective; approved supplier register is not current; not using data available to maintain approved supply base.
 
8.5.1 Manufacturing processes – 13 NC’s for failure to maintain sampling per plan; inspection & verification not carried out per procedure; personal stamp control not effectively maintained.
 
7.1.5.2 Calibration – 5 NC’s for equipment not adequately identified to match calibration records.  What’s key with this finding is the follow through to determine if any product could be non-conforming when a calibrated instrument is determined as unfit for use.

 
 
 

IATF 16949 Non-Conformances by ASR Auditors


Standardized (8.5.1.2) work instructions and visual standards (48) together with contingency (6.1.2.3) planning (37) were the top two nonconformances written by ASR’s IATF 16949 auditors during 2020. 

These numbers reflect on-site audits conducted before COVID-19 forced a large number of automotive suppliers to curtail operations.

On our website are the details of ASR’s top ten IATF 16949 nonconformances which is comparable to IAOB’s list of worldwide nonconformances. 



 
 
ISO Standards Training Benefits

To ensure competence, it is important your management system staff (internal auditors, and all stakeholders) are properly trained. 

After completing an online course, they are tested and receive a certificate to show Objective Evidence of their competence.  These certificates can be used as Objective Evidence during your internal or 3rd party audits.

Online Standards Training via Ingentius.com has Training packages for these standards:
Be sure to use discount code: 2020ASR  for a 30% discount
(good until the end of the year)
 
 
 
If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. If you find these newsletters useful, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues.
 
Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved.
*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|*

Our mailing address is:
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Client Testimonials

Our ISO auditor became a value add to our organization

Our auditor did a fantastic job.  A big difference with this audit  versus previous audits was Sherryl’s desire to make the audit a value added tool for our organization to help improve our system. You will see this evident in my answers to your survey.

Kyle J. Hall
The Hall Company

Last Minute Success

Service was very good. It was a last minute Transfer request / re-certification and all correspondence were expedited in a professional manner. We were satisfied with the auditor, as he was thorough and very fair. 

Tom
Stevens Co. Inc.

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