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TA-08: Quality & Your Role in the IMS

Reference: TA-08 | Issue Date: 14/03/2026 | Review Date: Sep 2026 Applicable Standards: ISO 9001 Cl. 7.3 | ISO 14001 Cl. 7.3 | ISO 45001 Cl. 7.3 Related Documents: HPOL01, HPOL02, HSQEMS01, HSQEMS02, HSQEMS03

Who Should Read This

All CRGI Solutions staff — especially new starters. This article explains what our management system is, why we have it, and what it means for your daily work.

What Is the HSQEMS?

HSQEMS stands for Health, Safety, Quality & Environmental Management System. It's the framework that governs how CRGI Solutions operates — from how we manage risks and deliver projects, to how we protect the environment and look after our people.

The system is certified to three international standards:

  • ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management
  • ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental Management
  • ISO 45001:2018 — Occupational Health & Safety Management

These aren't just certificates on a wall. They're independently audited by Alcumus ISOQAR (Certificate 25957), and they provide clients with confidence that we operate to recognised international standards.

Why It Matters

For Clients

Our certifications tell clients that: our work processes are controlled and consistent, our designs go through proper review, we manage risks systematically, and we're accountable through independent external audit. Many clients require ISO certification as a condition of working with us. Maintaining these certifications protects our ability to win and retain work.

For You

The management system exists to support you, not to create paperwork. It provides: clear processes so you know how things should be done, defined responsibilities so you know who does what, risk management so hazards are identified before they cause harm, and a framework for raising concerns and driving improvement.

For the Business

A well-run management system reduces errors, prevents incidents, satisfies clients, and demonstrates legal compliance. It makes CRGI a better, safer, more reliable business.

How the System Is Structured

The HSQEMS is built around three manuals:

  • HSQEMS01 — IMS Manual — The "mother document". Sets out the management system structure aligned to ISO requirements. Covers leadership, planning, support, operations, performance evaluation, and improvement.
  • HSQEMS02 — Scope & Context — Defines our scope of certification, context (SWOT, PESTLE), interested parties, and the climate change determination required by ISO Amendment 1:2024.
  • HSQEMS03 — Roles & Responsibilities — Defines who is responsible for what across the organisation.

Supporting these are 23 policies, 20 procedures, 19 forms, and 16 registers — each with a clear reference number and purpose. You don't need to memorise them all, but you should know where to find what you need: hsqems.crgi.uk.

Your Role in Quality

Quality at CRGI means delivering engineering work that meets the agreed requirements, first time, every time. It's not about perfection — it's about consistency, accuracy, and meeting the standard the client is paying for.

What Good Quality Looks Like

  • Understanding the brief — Make sure you know what's required before you start. If the brief is unclear, ask.
  • Following the process — Our procedures exist because they work. HPROC06 (Design Process Control) sets out the stages from receiving a brief to issuing deliverables.
  • Self-checking your work — Before submitting, review it. Check dimensions, calculations, specifications, and compliance with the brief. Errors caught before issue are learning; errors caught by the client are failures.
  • Design review — Formal design reviews are part of our process. They're not a criticism of your work — they're a safety net that protects you, the client, and the business.
  • Document control — Use the correct templates, version numbers, and file naming conventions. If you're not sure, check or ask.

When Something Goes Wrong

No system eliminates errors entirely. When something goes wrong:

  1. Report it — Don't cover it up. Raise it with your line manager or through the Corrective Action Form (HFORM05)
  2. Contain it — Prevent further impact if possible
  3. Investigate — Understand what happened and why
  4. Correct it — Fix the immediate problem
  5. Prevent recurrence — Address the root cause so it doesn't happen again

This process is tracked through the Corrective Action Log (HREG08). Raising a nonconformity is a positive action — it drives improvement.

Customer Focus

ISO 9001 places customer focus at the heart of quality management. At CRGI, this means:

  • Understanding requirements — Make sure client expectations are clear, documented, and achievable before committing
  • Communication — Keep clients informed of progress, especially if timelines or deliverables change
  • Feedback — We actively seek client feedback through the Customer Feedback Log (HREG15) and the process in HPROC19. If a client gives you informal feedback (positive or negative), pass it on
  • Complaints — Treat any client dissatisfaction as an opportunity to improve. Report it through the correct channel so it's logged and addressed.

Continual Improvement

ISO requires us to continually improve the effectiveness of our management system. This isn't just management's job — everyone contributes.

How You Can Contribute

  • Suggest improvements — If you see a better way to do something, raise it. Process improvements can come from anyone.
  • Report near misses — A near miss that doesn't get reported will eventually become an incident.
  • Participate in audits — Internal audits are how we check the system is working. If you're asked to participate, be open and honest.
  • Attend management review inputs — Your observations about what's working and what isn't feed into the management review process (HPROC13).
  • Complete training — These awareness articles, and the external training courses, keep your knowledge current.

Audits — What to Expect

CRGI is externally audited by Alcumus ISOQAR. Our next surveillance visit is 26–27 March 2026. Internal audits are conducted throughout the year per the audit programme (HREG07).

If you're interviewed during an audit:

  • Be honest — Auditors value honesty over perfection. If something isn't working, say so.
  • Describe what you do — Not what the procedure says. Auditors want to see that practice matches the documented process.
  • Show evidence — If you're asked for records, provide what you have. Don't create records on the spot.
  • Ask for clarification — If you don't understand a question, say so.
  • Don't worry — Audits aren't exams. They're conversations. If you're doing your job and following the processes, you'll be fine.

Key Takeaways

  • The HSQEMS is your system — it exists to help you work safely, consistently, and effectively
  • Quality means meeting requirements first time — understand the brief, follow the process, check your work
  • If something goes wrong, report it and help fix it — that's improvement, not failure
  • Client satisfaction drives everything — understand their needs and deliver
  • The management system lives at hsqems.crgi.uk — use it

CRGI Solutions HSQE Department | HSQEMS v2.0 | Classification: CRGI Information