Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1503998
50 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2023 e sum of the scores from each department is tallied at the end of production to calculate a combined score. Each department, shi, and participant are continually challenged to find ways to increase token scores. Our game com- plements the competitive elements of human nature, whether between different shis or neighboring departments. e ultimate goal is to improve the system itself, providing every- one with a common goal, and allowing for a friendlier environment, while at the same time improving on-time deliveries and producing higher quality boards. at's right. We have been gamifying our ISO initiative. Gamification is an extremely useful methodology for companies needing to train new knowledge and skills. It is also used successfully for career development, early group learning, and continuing education. It makes the work more fun and, I believe, makes our business more efficient and our products higher quality. Aer 20 years as a lab technician, I moved into administering the quality management systems (QMS). at meant I became the ISO point person. My job is to continue the ongo- ing improvement that has been integral to our company's success with ISO. Commitment to ISO Leads to Improved Results ISO and QMS should be more than a badge on the company website. ISO certification tells the marketplace that your company has cre- ated a system that drives continuous improve- ment of production output. Even when the QMS functions well and there exists a quality-focused culture, that does not mean it is time to turn on the auto- pilot. Use the ISO framework to pursue truly continuous improvement. As Jeff Bezos said about developing a space program, we intend to work "step-by-step, ferociously." Step-by-step is a great model for our work in building custom PCBs for clients. It is a step-by-step process; a PCB board build goes through multiple systems on our factory floor, from masking and plating to drilling and shipping. ISO 9001 is a lens to look at the work. Each step costs in time and expense. Each team works in a specific area, taking in a job from Figure 2: Annual report showing how ISO 9001 adoption led to a reduction in corrective actions. Corrective Action Requests (CARs) are a root cause analysis of a production problem that has occurred.