MCS Quality Management System

[Treadwarm]

Hi Bill,

that link is great thanks , apparently easy mcs will build your qms for you what are your thoughts on this?

 

[accordfire]

Hi Bill,

that link is great thanks , apparently easy mcs will build your qms for you what are your thoughts on this?

There's a few companies out there with offers along these lines - one I recall offering a complete QMS in 30 days.....at only a grand. On closer inspection, it was, kind of.

The real problem with a lot of QMS consultancies, and especially ones which offer "standard" QMS systems is that they generally either only offer a "starter" system which misses half of what you actually do, or it forces a load of stuff on you that you don't need to do.

There is a myth that QMS is hard to understand. It isn't. In essence, all any QMS is, is a system which contains documentation of how your business operates. It needn't be any more complicated than that.

The Easy MCS scheme seems to offer the right service - not sure on pricing, but definitely worth investigation as to cost, and precise involvement. It likely won't be cheap though, especially given the strap saying 0% loans for Welsh Installers (time for a Welsh branch location?).....

One key thing I will say is that the more you can document what you already do, and design basic processes for, the easier the process becomes, the better your understanding of things, and the more likely you are to be consistent in things in any case.

You probably already have most of what you need, just never written it down at all.

For example - do you deal with all installations in the same way? Many of the processes for testing, inspection, even install practice are already there.

The single biggest thing most people have difficulty getting their head around is mapping the processes - i.e. every document has to have a unique number, so it can be referred to unambiguously.

The other thing of note is that is is ALWAYS worth speaking to your scheme admin to see if they have any guides as to what they expect from you in terms of the QMS. They should have some kind of overview document, and may even let you have a copy of the assessment form.

After all, it's as much in their interest as yours that your application is successful.

 

[Treadwarm]

Bill,

I received my QMS manual from Easy MCS today and have been in contact with Pete one of the mentors over the last few days to get myself set-up to implement it over the x mas break. I am really impressed with the package they have provided but the mentoring they have given me over the last few days has given me full confidence in going for my accreditation. The package they provide cost me £495 and includes all the relevant procedures for mcs for heat pumps the only bit I have to get is the TR/30 guide.

They have given me a list of 10 things to do over the x-mas break such as creating a non conforming product area and a few example customer complaints and using the info in the folder i need to create a project pack and hand over but everything is in the pack.

They have advised either NIC or Corgi for my assessment does anybody know of any others ?

 

[accordfire]

Bill,

I received my QMS manual from Easy MCS today and have been in contact with Pete one of the mentors over the last few days to get myself set-up to implement it over the x mas break. I am really impressed with the package they have provided but the mentoring they have given me over the last few days has given me full confidence in going for my accreditation. The package they provide cost me £495 and includes all the relevant procedures for mcs for heat pumps the only bit I have to get is the TR/30 guide.

They have given me a list of 10 things to do over the x-mas break such as creating a non conforming product area and a few example customer complaints and using the info in the folder i need to create a project pack and hand over but everything is in the pack.

They have advised either NIC or Corgi for my assessment does anybody know of any others ?

That's quite impressive then.

It seems you're well on the way, too.

I'd have said either NIC or Corgi for the assessment too.

Happy Christmas!

 

[Treadwarm]

I have recently received my quality management system, mentoring service & advice on inspection from a company called easy mcs i am now looking to book my assessment. does anybody have any advice on who to use for my inspection i have been advised either NIC or Corgi ?

 

[solarpowerwales]

hi all, just joined the site. we all seem to be in the same boat, im looking into booking myself on a quality management seminar too get assistence with the criteria of passing the pv assesment, can anyone one give me further advice and if the have experienced it and if they belive it has been worth it, many thanks

 

[Treadwarm]

hi all, just joined the site. we all seem to be in the same boat, im looking into booking myself on a quality management seminar too get assistence with the criteria of passing the pv assesment, can anyone one give me further advice and if the have experienced it and if they belive it has been worth it, many thanks

Hi there, this mcs stuff is certainly a bit of a task to say the least. Well I went on a seminar that cost £75 (+ a day not working as I am self employed) it did give me a knoledge of what mcs is and a stack of templates for my qms but when I sat down to but the bespoke qms together I was still miles from the standard required. I eventually called a company called easy mcs in Chester and they produced my qms for me and mentored me through the standard all for £495. When you take into consideration that I would of failed my assesment with the pack I started putting together + a re-assesment fee i started thinking this should of Been my first route instead of the seminar. Well worth giving them a bell.

 

[Treadwarm]

Also they pointed me in the right direction for the 0% loan to gain mcs as I was in Wales.

 

[solarpowerwales]

Thanks treadwarm, something to consider

 

[DomB]

Hi, just to say we're with NAPIT and they have an MCS / QMS template that we're just working through now - it includes things like templated Excel sheets for document registers etc etc. We're looking to customise it to our way of working ready for our MCS assessment mid Jan

 

[Treadwarm]

To be honest when I started putting mine together I worked out it would take me about two / three weeks and it may still fail. I just liked the thought that for £495 I could have someone do it for me that knows the standards and guarrantees an office based pass. It meant I could get on with installing and making money. If I missed three days work because I was working on my qms then I would of lost the same amount of income as the cost of the pack.

 

[solarpowerwales]

just to go off the subject how ae you guys going to to be assesed, what i mean is you first job that you will be assesed on. its not a good selling point to a customer that there house will be the first one you do etc, or you going to install on a friends or family house, cheers

 

[Treadwarm]

You don't have to actually do an installation yourself, if you know of someone who has done an installation you could use this as an example to show the assesor. You build your project pack and hand over pack around this installation as if you have completed it from initial enquiry to calcs to commissioning. The assesor will be able to see that you understand the installation process and audit you in 12 months to ensure you are doing it correctly.

 

[solarpowerwales]

cheers treadwarm, do you have any info i.e paperwork you fill in on commisioning etc, my pv course is in 2 weeks just want to get the best understanding i can before the course starts. i always feel they rush these courses. if you have anythinbg that you may feel will benifit me could you send me them to [email protected]. diolch..

 

[Treadwarm]

If I am honest mate I am still in the early stages myself and will be looking to get my training course booked in jan myself . If I can give any advice it would be to speak to your certification body or easy mcs before you book your course I went on one that cost me £300 and I had no practical training what so ever. Like with anything u have good and bad courses but easy mcs reccomended me on to one just need to get it booked.