IMS is pleased that one of our clients has received an excellence award from their main customer; Lockheed Martin.
Read the full story here: PACE Machine
Jan 112013
Michael Venner
Dec 182012
If organisations are already certified to AS9100, AS9120 or AS9110 they would have recently received an email from the IAQG regarding the OASIS Database and your administrators. They requested that all administrators log in to prevent themselves being removed during the clearing process of inactive accounts.
Many organisations did not login and now their account has been shown as inactive, their customers have also been notified if they had them on their watchlist. This is also preventing Certification Bodies from doing any work on their account such as upload reports. This would result in them becoming removed from the scheme due to non-maintenance of the OASIS Database.
In order to remove this you need to login to the OASIS database, if you have forgotten your password then there is a link to request it to be sent to your email address. Certification Bodies do not know these and have not got access to them, if you are having problems you need to contact the IAQG directly, their number is on the website. https://www.sae.org/?PORTAL_CODE=IAQG&WORKAREA=FORGOTPASSWORD .
Dec 152012
It has recently been brought to the attention of IMS that there are concerns within the aerospace industry regarding organisations internal audits, especially taking into account organisations certified to AS9100, AS9120 and AS9110.
There are various points within the Aerospace Scheme standards that refer to ensuring the Management System takes into account customer and regulatory requirements (4.1-The organisation’s quality management system shall also address customer and applicable statutory and regulatory quality management system requirements) is an example. This implies that when applying the management system requirements the organisation needs to include customer and regulatory requirements.
One of the concerns being identified is that the internal audit plans and processes are not identifying applicable customer and regulatory requirements and being audited accordingly. Many organisations are performing their internal audits against the Aerospace Standard clauses but not considering the other standards which may be applicable to them. As an example, the internal audits should review compliance with customer specifications which may be referenced within contracts. This could also include CAA, EASA and FAA requirements etc. The “note” within the internal audit clause states “Planned arrangements include customer contractual requirements” when making reference to the internal audit plans.
With this in mind, IMS Auditors will be reviewing internal audit plans in greater detail to ensure that customer, regulatory and statutory requirements have been planned and audited sufficiently. Auditors will need to see that the Audit Plan/Schedule covers all requirements and the internal audit records cover the above.
Nov 272012
Many client’s often ask our auditors about the validity of a number of their suppliers certificates as they do not display the UKAS logo on their ISO 9001 certificate.
It’s important to remember that UKAS is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and other countries have their own equivalent accreditation bodies, just because the certificate doesn’t display the UKAS logo doesn’t mean it isn’t valid.
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment. Its primary function is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment which reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon.
The IAF Signatories have all signed up to a Multilateral Agreement by which they all abide by the same set of rules and accept each others existence in terms of the services they supply. By reviewing the Accreditation Body shown on the certificates in question against the IAF membership list you are able to ensure that the certificate you are viewing is from an accreditation body the equivalent of UKAS or ANAB (USA) etc.
There are other accreditation bodies in existence which are not necessarily on the list but by using a certification body who is accredited by a body on the list then you can guarantee that the same rules are being applied to each and every one of them and you should therefore have a consistent level of service.
To review the list of IAF Signatories, please click here.
Oct 252012
IMS International have recently become members of the Safety Systems In Procurement Scheme which is an umbrella organisation which aims to reduce the bureaucracy with maintaining Health and Safety Management Systems. Each member has a mutually recognisable health and safety scheme, thus reducing the need to apply for a number of different certifications.
As a requirement to be members of the scheme, IMS International were required to present their UKAS Accreditation Certificate for Health and Safety Management Schemes to prove that we have competent auditors and manage our clients in a certain manner.
If you would like to know more about the SSIP or OHSAS 18001 then please visit our main website or contact our Head Office on 01376 500068.
Oct 142012
IMS International are pleased to announce that after a long drawn out process we have successfully achieved OHSAS 18001:2007 UKAS Accreditation.
Many clients already have OHSAS 18001 certificates unaccredited, if you would like to receive a quotation for this to become accredited then please contact the head office www.imsworld.org
If you would like to know more about OHSAS 18001 then please follow the link
Jun 052012
Reliance Technical Service Ltd are pleased to announce that we have been successfully approved as a Notified Body for the new Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 as recommended by UKAS on the 26th March 2012.
The BIS website is now showing us as an approved body, if anyone would like any further information or would like any Toys approved to be sold within the EU, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Apr 272012
IMS International are pleased to advise that we are able to offer a limited number of spaces for an IRCA Registered ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Lead Auditor Course on the 14th May 2012. The duration of the course if five days and will be delivered by CMC International in Milton Keynes. The cost of the course will be £580 plus VAT.
Please contact IMS directly if you would like further information or would like to book a place on the course.
Jan 182012
IMS have successfully passed their office assessment from UKAS for OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Management Systems Accreditation.
The next step in the process is to have a witnessed assessment on a willing and able client. We have a couple of new applications in the pipeline which may be suitable but if there are any current clients who do not mind having UKAS witness them being audited then please contact the office.
Thanks to everyone for their support during the process, had some valuable input from some colleagues and associates to IMS.
We will keep everyone posted on the progress
Sep 192011
Some great new customer satisfaction received last week.
9th September 2011-”Keep up the good work”
16th September 2011-”After having experienced British Standards over the past 10 years and having to put
up with the totally disconnected way they work with their clients as well as with each other, it has
been a refreshing experience for all within our organisation to have experienced IMS Internationals
excellent performance this far.”
If you would like to read more of our customer satisfaction please click here