TABLE OF CONTENTS (George) Miller (1956) showed that the individual's ability to make absolute distinctions among stimuli, to distinguish phonemes from one another, to estimate numbers accurately, and to remember a number of discrete items all seemed to undergo a crucial change at about the level of seven items. Below that number, individuals could readily handle such tasks: above it, individuals were likely to fail. Nor did this discontinuity seem accidental.
Howard Gardner, The Mind's New Science , New York: Basic Books, 1985, p. 89.
The beginning of wisdom is calling things by their right names.
Old Chinese Proverb.
A considerable effort is required by top management to produce a stand-alone ISO 9001:2000 sequenced manual that integrates business strategy with quality management. It is an iterative activity that peaks approximately one-third of the way into the process and then requires some level of maintenance up to the certification assessment. After certification, maintenance is normally required prior to a surveillance assessment and when the organizational and operational structure makes significant changes.
We can estimate to some degree the number of hours required to create a fully compliant manual if we assume there are the following:
A process manufacturing facility;
A staff of 100 employees 20% of which are managers and line supervisors;
A quality-assurance department;
A management representative who is also a full-time manager;
A full-time clerical support;
A...
