Quality Manual
Quality Manual
3 KENDRICK ROAD
WAREHAM, MA 02571
REVISION STATUS
1 revision 21
Section 1 cont.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 revision 21
Section 1 cont.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
7 Product realization 15
Planning of product realization 15
Customer-related processes 15
Determination of requirements related to the product 15
Review of requirements related to the product 16
Customer communication 16
Design and development 16
Design and development planning 16
Design and development inputs 17
Design and development outputs 17
Design and development review 17
Design and development verification 17
Design and development validation 17
Control of design and development changes 18
Purchasing 18
Purchasing process 18
Purchasing information 18
Verification of purchased product 18
Production and service provision 19
Control of production and service provision 19
Validation of processes 19
Identification and traceability 19
Customer property 20
Preservation of product 20
Control of monitoring and measuring devices 20
8 Measurement, analysis and improvement 21
General 21
Monitoring and measurement 21
Customer satisfaction 21
Internal audit 21
Monitoring and measurement of processes 22
Monitoring and measurement of product 22
Control of nonconforming product 22
Analysis of data 23
Improvement 23
Continual improvement 23
Corrective action 23
Preventive action 24
3 revision 21
Section 2.
COMPANY PROFILE
Design Mark, was founded in 1971. It is a manufacturer of custom labels, graphic overlays, nameplates shielding,
insulators, and integrated membrane keypads, serving multinational customers and OEM’s in the computer, electronics,
instrumentation, telecommunications, appliance and industrial products industries.
The facility located in Wareham, MA. includes our customer service, art, engineering, manufacturing, and quality
operations. In addition Design Mark works strategically with subcontractors in the United States, Singapore, China, and
Taiwan.
Design Mark provides a high level of service through a global network of account managers, sales representatives and a
dedicated customer service team, working closely together to satisfy the needs of our customers.
The following document describes our quality management system based on “ISO 9001: Latest Revision of Standard”,
and is the basis of our commitment to continually improve our systems to satisfy the needs of our customers.
Organizational Context
Design Mark is a privately held corporation in Wareham, Massachusetts (Federal Employer ID 822840397). Incorporated
in 2007 Design Mark Industries maintains its corporate offices at 3 Kendrick Road, Wareham, Massachusetts, 02571.
Design Mark operates our business in accordance with all local, state and federal laws and in conjunction with our
agreements with Underwriters Laboratories and The United States Department of State (Registrant Code M21782) and
Design Mark Industries’ board of directors and ownership agreements as stipulated.
Design Mark Industries produces membrane switch, graphic overlay, flexographic label, seal, gasket and functional die
cut products to satisfy our customer’s needs in accordance with applicable drawings, specifications, requests for
international environmental compliance reporting, audit requests and ethical business practices.
External organizational and operational environmental factors influencing business decisions may be discussed and
reported including but not limited to the following areas:
o Competitive threats.
o Customer audit requests and follow-up.
o Environmental compliance requests/status.
o Supply chain interruptions.
o Material pricing concerns.
Internal organizational and operational environmental factors influencing business decisions may be discussed and
reported including but not limited to the following areas:
o Staffing levels.
o Human resource issues.
o Operational issues.
o Operational metrics.
o Changes or impact to the QMS.
Design Mark manages our business decision making process on the basis of PDCA principles while weighing associated
risk to internal and external interested parties and other contributing factors.
4 revision 21
Section 2 cont.
QUALITY POLICY
Design Mark is committed to satisfying our Customers by continually improving the effectiveness of our quality
management system.
This policy has been formulated by the President of Design Mark, and approved by its managers. The policy is explained
and discussed at the general orientation training given to all existing and new employees. Copies of the policy are posted
in prominent locations throughout the company. Employee understanding and participation with regard to this policy is
checked during internal quality audits. Measures of company performance are posted in conspicuous locations for the
information of all employees.
5 revision 21
6 revision 21
Section 3 cont.
QUALITY PLAN
CUSTOMER INPUT
REQUEST FOR QUOTE
RECEIVE ORDER
SOP-03-01
IN-PROCESS INSPECTION
STORAGE
MOP-09-01
MOP-15-01 EOP-08-01
EOP-08-01 QOP-12-01
PACKAGING
MOP-15-01
FINAL INSPECTION
QOP-10-03
STORAGE
MOP-15-01 EOP-08-01
DELIVERY
MOP-15-01
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
SOP-14-04
7 revision 21
Section 3 cont.
8 revision 21
Section 4.
INTRODUCTION
This Quality Manual contains the overall policies for the quality management system of Design Mark. This quality system
complies with the international standard, “ISO 9001: Latest Revision of Standard”.
a) Needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer requirements and
applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and
b) Aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for
continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer expectations and applicable
statutory and regulatory requirements.
Application
When any requirement of ISO 9001 cannot be applied due to the nature of our organization and our products and
services, it has been excluded from our quality management system.
When exclusions are made, they are limited to requirements contained in the specific. Such exclusions do not affect the
organization’s ability or responsibility to provide products and services that fulfill customer requirements and applicable
regulatory requirements.
Design Mark does not in its normal course of business provide field service to any of its products. Therefore any element
of ISO 9001 related to service after the sale does not apply to Design Mark. Therefore, the Service provisions in clause
8.2 do not apply to our Quality Management System if discussed in the scope of field service after sale. If this were to
become applicable, documented procedures would be put in place and our QMS amended.
Scope
This Quality Management System pertains to all operations performed at the facilities located in Wareham,
Massachusetts, and is applicable to the design and manufacture of custom labels, graphic overlays and integrated
membrane keypads.
9 revision 21
4 Quality Management System Policies
Design Mark has established, documented, implemented and maintains a quality management system in accordance with
the requirements of “ISO 9001: Latest Revision of Standard”.
Design Mark:
a) Determine the processes needed for the quality management system and their application throughout the
organization, (see Index of operational procedures, page 8)
b) Determines the sequence and interaction of these processes, (see quality plan, page7) (sec 4.)
c) Determines criteria and methods required to ensure that both the operation and control of these processes are
effective,
d) Ensures the availability of resources and information necessary to support the operation and monitoring of these
processes,
e) Monitors, measures where applicable and analyze these processes,
f) Implements actions necessary to achieve planned results and continual improvement of these processes,
g) Manages its processes in accordance with the requirements of “ISO 9001: Latest Revision of Standard”, and
h) Identifies the controls to be applied within the quality management system to outsourced processes, which affect
product conformity to requirements. (Sec. 7)
4.2.1 General
Quality management system documentation includes:
a) Documented statements of quality policy and quality objectives, [see page 6 and section 8]
b) A Quality Manual, [this document]
c) Documents and records required by the International Standard to implement the policies stated in this manual and
referenced here by paragraph, See Index of Operational Procedures, page 8
d) Other documents including records determined by the organization to be necessary to ensure the effective planning,
operation and control of its processes and
a) The scope of the quality management system, including details of, and justification for, any exclusions [see section 1],
b) The documented procedures established for the quality management system, and
c) Description of the interaction between the processes of the quality management system See QUALITY PLAN,
page 7
10 revision 21
4.2.3 Control of Documents
Documents required for the quality management system are controlled. Quality records are a special type of document
and are controlled according to the policy described in section 4.
A documented procedure has been established to define the controls needed to:
Quality records established to provide evidence of conformity to requirements and of effective operation of the quality
management system shall be controlled.
A documented procedure has been established to define the controls needed for the identification, storage, protection,
retrieval, retention time and disposition of quality records.
Quality records are maintained so as to remain legible, readily identifiable and retrievable.
5 Management Responsibility
Design Mark top management provides evidence of its commitment to the development and improvement of the quality
management system and continually improving its effectiveness by:
a) Communicating to the organization the importance of meeting customer as well as statutory and regulatory
requirements [sec 5.3],
b) Establishing the quality policy [sec 5.3],
c) Ensuring that quality objectives are established [sec 5],
d) Conducting management reviews [sec 5], and
e) Ensuring the availability of resources [sec 6].
Design Mark top management ensures that customer requirements are determined and fulfilled with the aim of enhancing
customer satisfaction [sec 7 and 8]
11 revision 21
5.3 Quality Policy
5.4 Planning
Design Mark top management ensures that quality objectives, including those needed to meet product requirements, are
established at relevant functions and levels within the organization. Quality objectives are measurable and consistent with
our quality policy, customer satisfaction, on-time delivery and to reduce scrap. [sec 5.6 and 7.1]
a) The planning of the quality management system is carried out in order to meet system requirements [see 4.1], as well
as quality objectives, and
b) The integrity of the quality management system is maintained when changes to the system are planned and
implemented and,
Design Mark management ensures that the responsibilities and authorities, and their interrelation are defined and
communicated within the organization.
12 revision 21
5.5.2 Management Representative
Design Mark top management has appointed a member of management who, irrespective of other responsibilities, has
responsibilities and authority that include:
a) Ensuring that processes needed for the quality management system are established, implemented and maintained,
b) Reporting to top management on the performance of the quality management system and any need for improvement, and
c) Ensuring the promotion of awareness of customer requirements throughout the organization.
Design Mark top management ensures that appropriate communication processes are established within the organization
and that communication takes place regarding the effectiveness of the quality management system.
5.6.1 General
Design Mark top management reviews the quality management system at planned intervals to ensure its continuing
suitability, adequacy and effectiveness. The review includes the assessment of opportunities for improvement and the
need for changes to the quality management system, including the quality policy and quality objectives.
13 revision 21
5.6.3 Review Output
The output from the management review includes any decisions and actions related to:
a) Improvement of the effectiveness of the quality management system and its processes,
b) Improvement of product related customer requirements,
c) Resource requirements,
d) Revisions to quality objectives, and
e) Revisions to the quality policy.
6 Resource Management
6.1 Provision of Resources
Design Mark identifies and provides the resources needed to:
a) Implement and maintain the quality management system and continually improve its effectiveness, and
b) Enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.
The competence of personnel performing work affecting conformity to product requirements is maintained on the basis of
appropriate education, training, skills and experience.
Design Mark:
a) Determines the necessary competence for personnel performing work affecting conformity to product requirements,
b) Where applicable, provides training or takes other actions to achieve the necessary competence,
c) Evaluates the effectiveness of the actions taken,
d) Ensures that our personnel are aware of the relevance and importance of their activities and how they contribute to
the achievement of their quality objectives, and
e) Maintains appropriate records of education, training, skills and experience (see 4.2.4).
6.3 Infrastructure
Design Mark determines, provides and maintains the infrastructure needed to achieve conformity to product requirements.
Infrastructure includes, for example:
14 revision 21
6.4 Work Environment
Our organization determines and manages the work environment needed to achieve conformity to product requirements.
7 Product Realization
Design Mark plans and develops the processes needed for product realization. Planning of product realization is
consistent with the requirements of the other processes of the quality management system.
When planning for product realization, Design Mark determines the following, as appropriate:
The output of this planning is in a form suitable for Design Mark’s method of operations.
The document specifying the processes of the quality management system (including the product realization processes)
and the resources to be applied to a specific product, project or contract, is referred to as our quality plan.
a) Requirements specified by the customer, including requirements for delivery and post-delivery activities,
b) Requirements not stated by the customer, but necessary for specified use or known and intended use,
c) Statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the product, and
d) Any additional requirements considered necessary by our organization.
15 revision 21
7.2.2 Review of Requirements Related to the Product
Design Mark reviews the requirements related to the product. This review is conducted prior to the organization's
commitment to supply a product to the customer (e.g. submission of tenders, acceptance of contracts or orders) and
ensures that:
Records of the results of the review and actions arising from the review are maintained.
When the customer does not provide a documented statement of requirement, customer requirements are confirmed by
our organization before acceptance.
When product requirements are changed, our organization ensures that relevant documents are amended and that
relevant personnel are made aware of the changed requirements.
In some situations, such as internet or telephone sales, a formal review is impractical for each order. Instead the review
covers relevant product information such as catalogues or advertising material.
Design Mark determines and implements effective arrangements for communicating with customers relative to:
a) Product information,
b) Enquiries, contracts or order handling, including amendments, and
c) Customer feedback, including customer complaints.
The Interfaces between different groups involved in design and development projects are managed to ensure effective
communication and clear assignment of responsibility.
Design Mark may at times verify and or validate design control and review in combination or independently as suited for
product or process as needed.
16 revision 21
7.3.2 Design and Development Inputs
Inputs relating to product requirements are determined and records maintained. These include:
The inputs are reviewed for adequacy. Requirements are complete, unambiguous and not in conflict with each other.
The outputs of design and development are in a form suitable for verification against the design and development input
and are approved prior to release.
Information for production and service provision may include details for preservation of product.
At suitable stages, systematic reviews of design and development are conducted to:
a) Evaluate the ability of the results of design and development to fulfill requirements, and
b) Identify any problems and propose necessary actions.
Participants in such reviews include representatives of functions concerned with the design and development stage(s)
being reviewed. Records of the results of verifications and any necessary actions are maintained.
Verification is performed to ensure that the design and development outputs have satisfied the design and development
input requirements. Records of the results of the verification and any necessary actions are maintained.
Design and development validation are performed to ensure that the resulting product is capable of fulfilling the
requirements for the specified or known intended use or application. Wherever practicable, validation is completed prior
to the delivery or implementation of the product. Records of the results of validation and any necessary actions are
maintained.
17 revision 21
7.3.7 Control of Design and Development Changes
Design and development changes are identified and records maintained. Changes are reviewed, verified and validated,
as appropriate, and approved before implementation. Review of design and development changes includes evaluation of
the changes on constituent parts and delivered product. Records of the results of the review of changes and any
necessary actions are maintained.
7.4 Purchasing
7.4.1 Purchasing
Design Mark ensures that purchased product conforms to specified purchase requirements. The type and extent of
control applied to the supplier and the purchased product is dependent upon the effect of the purchased product on
subsequent realization or the final product.
Design Mark evaluates and selects suppliers based on their ability to supply product in accordance with the organization's
requirements. Criteria for selection, evaluation and re-evaluation are established. Records of the results of evaluations
and any necessary actions arising from the evaluation are maintained.
Design Mark ensures the adequacy of specified purchase requirements prior to their communication to the supplier.
Design Mark identifies and implements inspection or other activities necessary for ensuring that purchased product meets
specified purchase requirements.
Where Design Mark or its customer intends to perform verification activities at the supplier's premises, our organization
states the intended verification arrangements and method of product release in the purchasing information.
18 revision 21
7.5 Production
Design Mark plans and carries out production under controlled conditions. Controlled conditions include, as applicable
Design Mark validates production processes where the resulting output cannot be verified by subsequent monitoring or
measurement and as a consequence, deficiencies become apparent only after the product is in use or the service has
been delivered.
Where appropriate, Design Mark identifies the product by suitable means throughout production realization.
Design Mark identifies the product status with respect to monitoring and measurement requirements throughout the
product realization.
Where traceability is a requirement, our organization controls and the unique identification of the product and maintains
records.
19 revision 21
7.5.4 Customer Property
Design Mark exercises care with customer property while it is under the organization's control or being used by the
organization. Our organization identifies, verifies, protects and safeguards customer property provided for use or
incorporation into the product. If any customer property is lost, damaged or otherwise found to be unsuitable for use,
Design Mark will report this to the customer and maintain records.
Design Mark preserves the product during internal processing and delivery to the intended destination in order to maintain
conformity to requirements. As applicable, preservation includes identification, handling, packaging, storage and
protection. Preservation also applies to the constituent parts of a product.
Design Mark determines the monitoring and measurement to be undertaken and the monitoring and measuring equipment
needed to provide evidence of conformity of product to specified requirements.
Design Mark establishes processes to ensure that monitoring and measurement can be carried out and are carried out in
a manner that is consistent with the monitoring and measurement requirements.
a) Calibrated and verified, or both, at specified intervals, or prior to use, against measurement standards traceable to
international or national measurement standards. Where no such standards exist, the basis used for calibration or
verification are recorded, (see 4.2.4),
b) Adjusted or re-adjusted as necessary,
c) Have identification in order to determine its calibration status,
d) Safeguarded from adjustments that would invalidate the measurement result, and
e) Protected from damage and deterioration during handling, maintenance and storage.
In addition, Design Mark assesses and records the validity of previous measuring results when the equipment is found not
to conform to requirements. Design Mark takes appropriate action on the equipment and any product affected.
Records of the results of calibration and verification are maintained (see section 4).
When used in the monitoring and measurement of specified requirements, the ability of computer software to satisfy the
intended application is confirmed. This is undertaken prior to initial use and reconfirmed as necessary.
Confirmation of the ability of computer software to satisfy the intended application would typically include verification and
configuration management to maintain its suitability for use.
20 revision 21
8 Measurement, analysis and improvement
8.1 General
Design Mark plans and implements the monitoring, measurement, analysis and improvement processes needed to:
This includes the determination of applicable methods, including statistical techniques, and the extent of their use.
As one of the measurements of performance of the quality management system, Design Mark monitors information
relating to customer perception as to whether Design Mark has fulfilled customer requirements. Design Mark determines
the methods for obtaining and using this information.
Design Mark conducts internal audits at planned intervals to determine whether the quality management system:
a) Conforms to the planned arrangements, to the requirements of “ISO 9001: Latest Revision of Standard and to the
quality management system requirements established by our organization, and
b) Is effectively implemented and maintained.
Our audit program is planned, taking into consideration the status and importance of the processes and areas to be
audited, as well as the results of previous audits. The audit criteria, scope, frequency and methods are defined. The
selection of auditors and conduct of audits is accomplished so as to ensure objectivity and impartiality of the audit
process. Auditors are not assigned to audit their own work.
Design Marks audit procedure defines responsibility and requirements for planning and conducting audits, establishing
records and reporting results.
The management responsible for the area being audited shall ensure that any necessary corrections or corrective actions
are taken without undue delay to eliminate detected nonconformities and their causes. Follow-up activities include
verification of actions taken and reporting of verification results.
21 revision 21
8.2.3 Monitoring and measurement of processes
Design Mark applies suitable methods to monitor, and where applicable, measure the quality management system
processes. These methods demonstrate the ability of the processes to achieve planned results. When planned results are
not achieved, correction and corrective action is taken, as appropriate.
When necessary, Design Mark will consider the type and extent of monitoring and measurement for each of its processes
in relation to their impact on the conformity to product requirements and on the effectiveness of our quality management
system.
Design Mark monitors and measures product characteristics to verify that product requirements are fulfilled. This is
carried out at appropriate stages of the product realization process in accordance with planned arrangements and
maintains evidence of conformity to the acceptance criteria.
Records indicate the person(s) authorizing release of product for delivery to the customer.
The release of product and service delivery to the customer does not proceed until all the planned arrangements have
been satisfactorily completed unless otherwise approved by a relevant authority and, where applicable, by the customer.
Design Mark ensures that product which does not conform to product requirements is identified and controlled to prevent
its unintended use or delivery. A documented procedure has been established and defines the controls and related
responsibilities for dealing with and isolating nonconforming product.
When applicable, Design Mark deals with nonconforming product in one or more of the following ways:
d) By taking action appropriate to the effects, or potential effects, of the nonconformity when nonconforming product is
detected after delivery or use has started.
When nonconforming product is corrected it is subject to re-verification to demonstrate conformity to the requirements.
Records of the nature of nonconformities and any subsequent actions taken, including concessions obtained, are
maintained.
22 revision 21
8.4 Analysis of data
Design Mark determines, collects and analyzes appropriate data to demonstrate the suitability and effectiveness of the
quality management system and to evaluate where continual improvement of the quality management system can be made.
This includes data generated as a result of monitoring and measurement and from other relevant sources.
8.5 Improvement
Design Mark continually improves the effectiveness of the quality management system through the use of the quality
policy, quality objectives, audit results, analysis of data, corrective and preventive actions and management review.
Design Mark takes action to eliminate the causes of nonconformities in order to prevent recurrence. Corrective actions
are appropriate to the effects of the nonconformities encountered.
23 revision 21
8.5.3 Preventive action
Design Mark takes action to eliminate the causes of potential nonconformities in order to prevent their occurrence.
Preventive actions taken are appropriate to the effects of the potential problems.
24 revision 21