10.2 Discussion

The estimate scales with size and product complexity, so plus 50% and minus 20% is possible. Table 10.1 illustrates a typical scenario and plan for the manual. The time to certification assessment is 12 months from the program kick-off date.

Table 10.1: Excellent Corporation's Quality Policy Manual Timeline
Manual Phases	Scheduled Months for Actions in Gray
Months from kick-off	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12 Cert
Initial drafts due
First draft review
Final draft review
First master published
Master review after continuous improvement audit
Master review after readiness assessment
Master review after certification audit
Total writer/editor/research days
ISO management representative	32	8	8	4		2		2		2	8	2
Technical writer		40	16	4		2		2		2	4	2
Clerical		40	16	8		4		4		2	8	2
ISO administration subtotals (hrs)	32	88	32	16		8		8		6	20	6
General manager	8	4	2	1		1		1		1	1	1
Engineering manager	12	6	3	2		1		1		1	1	1
Operations manager	12	8	4	2		1		1		1	1	1
Purchasing manager	8	4	2	1		1		1		1	1	1
QA manager	16	12	8	6		4		2		1	4	2
Marketing and sales manager	84		21			1		1		111
HR manager	8	4	2	1		1		1		1	1	1
Finance manager	4	2	1	1		1		1		1	1	1
Supervisors			16	4		1		1		1	1	1
GM and staff subtotals (hrs)	76	44	40	19		12		10		9	12	10
Grand total (hrs)	108	132	40	19		12		10		9	12	10
Grand total of hours = 448 employee hours
ISO administration = approximately 27 days
Approximately = 56 employee days
GM and staff = 232 hours = approximately 29 days

As indicated in Table 10.1, to create a manual of approximately 50 pages requires a considerable effort of the entire staff—approximately 56 employee days. This is not a one-two-three exercise, and the effort includes team meetings and considerable dialogue. This estimate assumes that the development of processes has been completed before work begins on the manual.

As indicated, the load is greatest on quality assurance because we have assumed that at least internal quality audits and metrology have been assigned to that group, along with inspection and testing. The potential loading on each department will become clearer as we proceed through the rest of the text.

The result of such an effort is a manual that makes sense to all of its readers and propagates a favorable impression of the organization both from a strategic and technical standpoint.