Incorporating links to ISO 9001 into manufacturing process models using IDEF 9000

This paper looks at how the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard for quality management systems are implemented in manufacturing. It supports manufacturing companies when modelling a Fulfil Order Process by identifying the links to the ISO 9001 quality standard and highlighting potential impacts from any changes in the process or the standard during a redesign project. Case studies revealed that simply documenting what an organization does in order to satisfy the various elements of ISO 9001 is still a common approach. This results in a process-oriented character only at the documentation stage, and is the result of limited guidance on how to integrate the requirements of ISO 9001 with business processes. This work includes the identification of links between ISO 9001 requirements and a holistic Fulfil Order Process and leads to the development of criteria for modelling a manufacturing business process showing its links to ISO 9001. A modelling technique, named IDEF 9000 , has been developed which will enable companies to take a systemic perspective of a Fulfil Order Process identifying all relevant links to ISO 9001. The evaluation of this technique focuses on IDEF 9000 as a tool that fulfils a common need not fulfilled by existing schemes. IDEF 9000 is based in systems theory and has been validated by review and in practice.