A Good Starting Point 1

[hodag]

Since I graduated from engineering school six years ago (BS in Mechanical/Manufacturing) I have spent my time doing project engineer work. I took a job with a small company that makes babbitted bearings a few months ago where I am the sole degreed engineer. The company is not ISO certified and the record keeping/procedures in place here are very inefficient. One of the duties I have taken on is to basically establish and engineering department (plans are to hire a couple more in the coming year). There are so many areas that need improvement, from better shop routings, to better manufacturing drawings, to actually writing a quality manual and departmental guidelines. Any suggestions as to which area I should be tackling first?

 

[MadMango]

You have to get your data in order first. This would include BOMs, vendor info, raw materials, routings (and related processes). Then I would move on to ensuring that your manufacturing drawings meet some sort of standards (ISO, ASME, ect).

After that large task is complete, I would move onto procedures or work instructions for the shop floor on how to manufacture/purchase your components, how they are inspected/received and approved, what is done with non-conforming items, ect.

Then I would try to tackle the office proceedures. Document as you go, and soon you will have a collection of memos and emails that you will be able to rely on to create a quality manual.

Ray Reynolds
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[QAguy]

The manual is no good if nobody reads it. Ask the people who work with the drawings, procedures, routings, etc. what they feel needs to be done first. Not only will this establish you as a team player but the working folks will know you're interested in their opinion and are more likely to trust you and contribute to your success.