This month I celebrate 19 years as an independent management consultant working with an extensive spread of businesses. Looking back over 2018 and, to the types of business sectors I have worked with, I consider it was a good year and felt this was an excellent opportunity to explain the kind of support we offer to businesses in different sectors.

Structural Steel Welders’ Fabricators

I am a sub-contract lead auditor for the Steel Construction Certification Services (SCCS) Ltd. and audit these companies against BS EN 1090 and ISO 9001:2015. I currently am the Lead Auditor for nine client companies, spread through the year.

Construction Main Contractors

We help these clients with maintaining and auditing their ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management); ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management); Management Training and Internal Audits. This is an exciting sector, and I would always welcome more opportunities in construction. I am currently helping three main contractor companies.

Specialist Printers

I have worked with this company for over eight years. We helped them implement ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Integrated Management System and continue to maintain the system, process their internal audits and provide training when required.

General Digital Printers

We implemented ISO 9001:2015, but unfortunately, the company has since stopped training.

Office and Educational Furniture – design, manufacture and installation

This is another company we have known for about eight years. We helped them to implement ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and Forestry Stewardship Council, Chain of Custody certification.

Scientific Instrument Design and Manufacturer

We supported this company to implement an effective management system and to eradicate some bad habits. Gained ISO 9001. We are occasionally called back to provide some refresher training or to complete internal audits. In 2018 it was all about the transition to ISO 9001:2015.

Emergency and commercial vehicle transfers and applications

We have been working together for five years, and I am their external Quality / Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Manager. I maintain their integrated management system against ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, which includes training, internal audits and risk assessments.

Precision engineering sub-contractors including CNC laser cutting, water jet, CNC machining centers, (mills and lathes) fine fabrication. CNC brake press and metal forming

I am currently working with three such companies and I am a day-a-month Quality and Health and Safety competent person for one of the above. This is the sector where I started as a general machinist and setter/ operator factory supervisor back in the 70’s; from then it was aerospace and real quality engineering.

Lift Services – maintenance, repairs and installation

Implemented, maintain and audit their integrated management system to ISO 9001:2015 and OHSAS 18001.

Industrial IT Systems – IT infrastructure component suppliers

Implemented their system from a start-up with just the owner. I have continued to provide internal audits, advice (consultancy) and training.

Specialist injection moulders – research & development, design, manufacture and assembly.

A day per month. Implemented ISO 9001 and 14001, audits, training and problem-solving. HACCP ISO 22001.

Commercial Boilers / Heating installation and servicing

Transition to ISO 9001:2015.

Communication Technology providers

Transition to ISO 9001:2015

Curtain Walling and Aluminium Doors and Windows – design manufacture and supply/install to the construction sector

Implementation of ISO 9001:2015

Commercial Partitioning and Interiors – design and project management

Implementing ISO 9001:2015

Fertiliser Producers

I worked with a fertiliser producer some years ago and implemented ISO 9001. The owner purchased a property to start manufacturing, and I helped them adjust the management system to integrate manufacturing/blending and warehousing processes and the transition to ISO 9001:2015.

Medical and Boating Refrigerators – manufacture, calibration and test

I help to maintain ISO 9001:2015, internal audits, occupational health and safety competent person and risk assessments.

Specialist Roof and Canopies (steel fabrication) design, manufacture, and site construction

Initially implemented the Factory Production Control procedures to BS EN 1090-1 / 2 and ISO 3834-3. Called back in 2018 to help with their internal audits and the ISO 9001:2015 transition.

Electronic research and development – specialist product

Implemented ISO 9001 four years ago and return, once a year, for a couple of days.

Waste Paper/Shredding

I maintain their integrated management system, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Provide consultancy, internal audits and system updates.

Building Cladding Systems – purchase, warehousing, logistics, supply, (sub-contract installation teams)

Fire safety production testing verification and validation. Design of connection systems. Implemented ISO 9001. Consultancy, training and internal audits.

Luxury Bathroom Suites – design, manufacture, logistics and warehousing

Implemented ISO 9001:2015

Plant Hire (mainly to the construction sector)

Implemented ISO 9001:2015

Hopefully, the above might explain why I enjoy doing what I do. It’s the diversity and the characters of the people I meet and, the challenge and rewards in helping a company improve. The friendships. The training and the satisfaction gained from it. Not forgetting the stories of inspiration and motivation that many of these business owners tell; from an idea in a shed or on the kitchen table to very successful global businesses.

Most of the above projects are in Sussex with a few in the surrounding counties.

Some of the above are successfully concluding, and therefore, I am open for new projects to take forward.

Funding Options

If you are looking to implement ISO 9001:2015 Quality or ISO 14001:2015, there are some excellent Funding Options available. These have to be taken up by March 2019 and apply to manufacturing or design businesses whose head offices are in East Sussex.

This funding can help meet your costs of implementing an ISO standard, and I can help you with the application. Don’t delay; let’s talk about the options and contact me as soon as possible.

Please visit my website for more information or email me at ian@qmprojects.com

Ian Walker CQP MCQI