What is competence?

What is competence? 

The ability to do something successfully or efficiently.  It is a mix of education, training, skills, and experience.  In a Quality Management System, competence can appear in Performance Indicators.   Is that process performing well?  So what are the Competency requirements in ISO 9001: 2015?  Who is affected? 

To answer the who question, the standard states, whoever performs work that affects the QMS.  When you look at your organization, you begin to understand everyone’s work, affects the QMS.   This includes:

• Top Management
• Salaried Personnel
• Hourly Personnel
• Supervisors and Managers
• Temporary Employees
• Research and Technical Personnel
• Recent Hires

In order to perform a task successfully or efficiently, the standard clarifies competency using four variables:

1. Education
2. Skills
3. Experience
4. Training

The mix of these variables will differ depending on the type of job being analyzed.  For instance, technical roles might require more skill, while managerial positions might require more education.  Training helps close the gaps when identifying competency requirements for each job.

Online training offers numerous benefits over traditional in-person methods, empowering you to maintain and enhance your competence.  Some of these advantages are:

A. Flexibility and Convenience: Online training allows participants to access the course material from anywhere at any time, having an internet connection. This flexibility enables individuals to learn at their own pace and fit the training into their schedule, making it convenient for busy professionals or those in different time zones. Online training can also be combined with in-person training to answer questions and provide real-world examples.

B. Cost-Effective: Online training often requires lower upfront costs than in-person training (No travel expenses are involved, such as transportation, accommodation, or meals.) Additionally, organizations can avoid the costs associated with renting training venues or providing physical training materials.  After a course has been taken, individual lessons can be revisited for a duration of time (e.g. 12 months of access) as a reference.

C. Improved workforce:  training certification can help professionals understand regulations, quality assurance, and implementation, leading to an improved staff.

D. Self-Paced Learning: Online training offers self-paced learning options, allowing participants to progress through the course material at their speed. Individuals can review challenging concepts, spend more time on areas of interest, or quickly move through familiar topics. This flexibility accommodates different learning styles and maximizes its effectiveness.

E. Access to Expertise: Online training often provides access to expert trainers and instructors who specialize in the specific ISO standard being taught. These professionals have extensive experience in implementing and auditing ISO standards, and they can provide practical insights and real-world examples. Participants can learn from these experienced professionals in the field, benefiting from their knowledge and insights. This expertise contributes to a comprehensive and high-quality learning experience.

F. Global Reach: Online training transcends geographical boundaries, making it accessible to participants worldwide. This global reach facilitates collaboration and knowledge sharing among professionals from diverse backgrounds and industries. Participants can gain insights from different perspectives and learn about best practices.

Encouraging employees to include ISO standard online training can provide significant competitive benefits to businesses and individuals. It can lead to improved financial performance, an enhanced workforce, and a better understanding of ISO standards and management systems. These benefits offer timely and effective options for  organizations seeking to meet the standards requirements and stay ahead in the competitive market.

To the right are some cost-effective training classes for your staff. Available 50% discount, be sure to use coupon code SAVE2024 during the checkout process.

• ISO 9001
• IATF 16949
• ISO 45001
• ISO 14001
• AS9100D
• ISO 13485