Endnotes

[1] We have just seen the hierarchy of policy, process, procedure, form used in the open literature: Bradel, Teri, "Quality Makes the Grade," Quality Progress, March 2002, p. 86.

[2] Although the terms quality policy, process, and procedure are defined in ISO 9000:2000, a pathological logic exists in the application of these concepts because a procedure is defined as a "specified way to carry out an activity or a process." It is a Catch 22 situation. Only six procedures are called for but we are to identify our processes, and it takes a procedure to document the process. As a result, our definitions are based on the work of Horn, Robert E., Demystifying ISO 9000, Second Edition, Information Mapping, Inc., Waltham, MA, 1994, pp. 5–6. In Mr. Horn's work, policy, process, procedure, and form are clearly defined.

[3] The terminology for tier II documents varies widely over different industries. We have found that SOPs, quality plans, process documents, and even low-level procedures fulfill the role of tier II documentation (i.e., that to which the tier I document sends the reader is intrinsically a tier II document).

[4] The importance of human interfacing with the QMS is extremely well documented. A source of original and lucid studies in this matter is available in the Quality Management Journal, a publication of the ASQ (e.g., Vol. 4, No. 2, 1997).

[5] ISO 9001:2000, Clause 4.1.

[6] ISO 9001:2000, Clause 4.2.3.

[7] The exponential increase of electronic media-based systems is concurrent with the explosion in information technology. It is now common to see electronic documentation control systems in use in parallel with MRP/ERP manufacturing control systems. Electronic calibration control systems are commonplace.

[8] ISO 9001:2000, Clause 4.2.2.