What is all about?
In an outmost and common knowledge, ISO is an acronym that stands for International Standards Organization, however, after participating on the ISO 9001:2015 QMS Awareness Training that was conducted on October 8, 2018, we were enlightened as regards to its definition. Hence, ISO represent International for Standardization and the name derives from the Greek word “isos”, as used in terms “isometrics”, which means equal value. Moreover, it is a common knowledge that ISO is applied only for businesses however, ISO had undergone lots of revision through the years to develop the standardization of product and services where academic institutions were included.
MPSPC under the Office of the Students Affairs programmed itself that by the end of December 2018 it will be an ISO 9001:2015 certificated. That’s the reason why during the mid of September until November there were often meetings, trainings and workshops conducted to briefly inform the concern units the necessary requirements to submit and fast track.
Library Strategic plan, Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis, Interested Parties, Quality Risk Assessment and Control (QRAC), Quality Objectives and Targets, Processes and Forms were finalized and submitted to the Document Controller for registration.
Collaborative efforts aggressively came out to provide necessary details on the services system specifically the library unit.
Why should we obtain such the 9001:2015 certificate?
Accordingly, these are some of the important requirements for obtaining such certificate: clients requirements are met; more revenue from new clients; improve organization and service quality; increase clients satisfaction; describe, understand and communicate the processes; develop professional culture and better employee morale; improve the consistency of operations; and most importantly, achieve International Quality recognition. This was elaborated and explained by the ISO consultant. Therefore, at the end of the session the consultant cleared up that obtaining ISO certificate is not negotiable it will require extra efforts, resources, determination and commitment to make it possible.
The Power of Housekeeping
Housekeeping refers to the 7s, first s stands for sort, wherein sorting the unneeded items and disposed bulky documents in our cabinet and personal things; straighten the location and or lay-out of office to avoid some unnecessary accident; scrub by eliminating the source of dirt or conduct a college clean for better atmosphere; standardized all the necessary things such as color coding scheme on labels of different sections in the library, library personnel tables and chairs; sustain through continual improvement and auditing; safety by clearing all the top of cabinet and nothing on the floor, proper signage’s strictly complying the 7s for safety; and last “s” is the spirit through self-discipline in the workplace, example, cleaning before and or after shift without any command or make it voluntarily.
7s housekeeping was implemented the day after the seminar. There were lots of papers, cabinets, chairs, tables and things under the tables in our office which were found unnecessary through walk-in inspection of the ISO consultant together with the participants. A committee then was formed to look into the formal implementation of 7s housekeeping. Red tagging was formally implemented based on the timetable of the committee.
On the first day of the implementation of the 7s patrol, items in the library were given the red tag mark such as personal jacket hanged at the office chair, globe placed on top of the shelves and a book cart located near the circulation counter. Nothing should be on top of every cabinets, bookshelves, floors and all cleaning materials should be put in one area under the general services unit and others. Implementing 7s patrol should not be bias according to the speaker, no exception even the top management. As such, 7s improve the workplace sorroundings.
