Thanks to all who attended our April training class.  It was a packed house and a packed agenda.  Learning about ISO can be like learning a new language, if you are new to the concept.  As you'll see from the participant comments, we did actually learn a little of a new language (and a lot about ISO!).

Feedback from participants included the following:
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“Learned about ISO 9001 processes and had fun with the Hot Ball Review.  The workshop today was awesome and exciting.” 


“Learned that processes involve a transformation.  Had fun with the modelling clay exercise and listening to music – try Irish next time.  Good workshop.  Change of techniques good to keeping me awake.”


 “Learned how to better identify processes from functions.  Had fun assembling an item from my partners direction. Had a great time and gained a better understanding of the ISO system.”
 
“The new thing I learned was the process.  Had fun when we counted with the rubber balls.  Very informative on how the process works.”
 
“The new thing I learned was ‘sources of inputs, inputs, activities, outputs’.  Had fun counting to ten in Irish.”
 
“Learned Quality Management Principles.  Had fun playing with my ball.  The workshop was informative.”
 
“I learned about performance evaluation.  Had fun bouncing the ball learning Irish.   It was fun.  Not too repetitive.  Actually learned something.”
 
“Learned more of my own company.  I had fun when inappropriate jokes were made by the teacher.  The workshop experience was entertaining.”
 
“Learned all about Context – involved the way you manage a company.  Had fun – customer focus and improvement."
 
“Learned how this all ties together.  Had fun playing with the balls.  Very good training.  It gave me a new perspective on ISO Certification and showed how everything ties together.”
 
“Better understanding of 2015.  Had fun with class involvement and bouncy ball."
 
“Learned that I still have trouble staying focused in an 8 hour class room.  But I can still read though!”
  
“Learned how to relate ISO to my specific company and policies.  Had fun listening to your Irish accent”
 
“This is a great way to identify organizational statements and exactly what to do.  Learned series reliability – the 95% probability.  Had fun with the bouncing balls.”

Most people visit our Texas State Capital, the beautiful city of Austin for parting.  We took training on the road.  Two days exploring the latest editions of IATF 16949:2016 was almost as entertaining as the sights on Austin's famous 6th Street!

Feedback from the class included:
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“Learned about the key points important to IATF that are not as key to ISO 9001.  I had fun with the details of the cars – what is needed to fulfill the specified function of the car.  The workshop was long but very informative.  Moved at a good pace.  Day 1 worksheets were good to reinforce the lessons learned.”
 
“Everything ties to our core processes defined in our context.  Had fun when the Quality System team had mapped the same (almost) core processes on Day 1.  The workshop was thought provoking on improvement activities; the experience was an introduction to IATF (no prior formal training on IATF 16949) and how to gauge effort needed to implement IATF 16949.”
 
“Learned a variety of IATF requirements.  Clarified the ‘layout’ of the standard in such a way that it made more sense and became more understandable.  Epiphany re: product roadmap applicability to product improvement requirement. Workshop – extensive information while remaining interesting and engaging; a level of clarity for both ISO 9001 and IATF that I had not had before.”
 
“Good re-training of ISO 9001:2015.  Good explanation of IATF 16494 requirements.  Instructor is very well versed on the standards.  For improvement: IATF Standard access was interrupted, perhaps due to Wi-Fi connection.  Suggest for instructor to have a downloaded copy.”
 
“I learned which procedures I need to update to meet requirements.  Had fun listening to new requirements; listening to software guys – typical response upon learning ISO requirements.  Good hands-on experience from consultant.  Ability to apply common sense to standard requirements.  Better understanding of IATF requirements.  Understanding of which procedures / requirements need to be updated.”
 
“I learned the details of IATF 16949 and reasoning behind changes to the standards.  I had fun discussing detailed applications of the standards and engaging in dialogue with team and Mark. Workshop experience was well-paced, informative, well prepared and productive.”

Participants at our Internal Auditor class did a great job applying their knowledge and understanding of the ISO 9001:2015 Standard to auditing a live ISO 9001:2015 certified Business Management System.

Comments from the class included:

“I learned that some clauses can be identified / cross path with another during the audit process.  I had fun when we identified the internal audit steps as a group.”
 
“I learned the ISO 9001:2015 standard.  I had fun setting the dancing feet with the steps in planning an audit.  Actually doing a mock audit helped to understand the standard much better.  I learned a great deal in the workshop.  Thank you.”
 
“I learned to audit from processes, rather than the standard.  No more audit checklists.  The training was fun and enjoyable.”
 
 “I learned that time management is essential to auditing and you should have an audit plan prior to the audit.  I had fun having group discussions; gives me an opportunity to learn from others.”
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We delved deep into Context in our ISO 9001 Basics class today. With the organization's context and key processes determined, the rest of the clauses of the ISO 9001:2015 have meaning and a practical application.​

Feedback from participants included the following:

“Learned about items needed for 2015.  Had fun during activities.  I really enjoyed the class today.  It was a lot of information in a short period of time.”
 
“Learned about risk-based thinking, how it should be monitored and measured.  Had fun in the ‘Listen and build with the clay’. The workshop experience was excellent and very educational.”
 
“Learned the changes to the new standard.  The whole course was enjoyable.”
 
“Learned all the new requirements, main changes and what to watch out for.  Had fun in the review.  On packets, the blank page could be lined for notes.”
 
“I learned it’s all about ‘context’ and the new standard focuses on top management.  I had fun playing games and group exercises.”

We spent some "quality" auditing time with a group who attended our 2 day ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor Training course this week.  

Comments from the class included:

“A new thing I learned was Risk Assessment and ways to organize the information.  I had fun with the steps on the floor activity, music with activities.  Nice presentation – easy and straight to the point.  Nice environment.”
 
“Learned about audit planning and what nonconformances are being found with the audits to the 2015 standard that weren’t before.  Had fun doing the audit planning exercise with the footprints.”
 
“I learned that auditing is like solving a puzzle.  Not everything is always straightforward, but it requires interpretation relative to procedures and standards.  I had fun during the audit and the closing meeting.”
 
 “I learned how to do a legit audit. Learned a better way to approach an audit; better understanding.  Had fun for the whole 2 days.”

'Twas the night before training when all through the office,
Not a device was stirring, not even the bosses, 
Materials were laid out on the tables with care,
​In the hope that trainees would soon be there. . . . 

​We awoke to a Houston under a fluffy blanket of snow on Friday December 8th, eight years since the last snowfall on December 4th, 2009.

​Kudos to those to braved the elements and made it to our ISO 9001:2015 Basics Training Workshop.  Feedback from the class included the following comments:

“Learned about risk management, management of change and all 2015 ISO.  Had fun during the review of quality management principles with the hot ball.  The workshop experience today was very entertaining, very descriptive and full of practical advice on the way around ISO 2015.”
 
“Better understanding of the sequence and interaction of key QMS processes and the definition of changes from ISO 2008 to 2015.  Had fun with the clay exercise.”
 
“Learned ISO 9001:2015 clauses – all new to me.  Had fun during the bouncing ball exercise.  The workshop was fun, educational and very helpful.”
 
“A new thing I learned was the concept of “Context” as used in 9001:2015.  I had fun learning the “CLP SOPI.  The workshop was a positive, engaging experience – very dry material that was presented in a way that was not boring and difficult to follow.”
 
“Group activities contributed to learning effectively and memorizing faster & of course, CLP SPOI.  Cheers!.”