Cognometrics Quality Assurance Manual
1.
Introduction and Mission Statement
Cognometrics was formed in 2003 to satisfy Provide our
customers with cost-effective Intelligent Transportation System R & D
services and related IT support, including:
a.
Transportation Connectivity Studies to create computer models of
transportation networks that can be run under varying levels of transportation
demand to identify system overload points in order to formulate recommendations
for infrastructure upgrade.
b.
Primary and secondary research, data mining, statistical analysis,
design, development and testing of new and existing ITS products and
technologies.
c.
Development of AI/Expert Systems and Intelligent Computer Tools for
situation analysis, decision support, product design and evaluation.
d.
Assistance in organizing, aggregating, managing, scoring and extracting
critical information from large collections of data.
2.
Policy and
objectives
Cognometrics’ quality policy is to
achieve sustained growth by providing services that consistently satisfy the
needs and expectations of its customers.
This level of quality is achieved through
adoption of a system of quality control procedures that reflect the competence
of the Company to existing customers, potential customers, and independent
auditing authorities.
Achievement of this policy involves all
staff, who are individually responsible for the quality of their work,
resulting in a continually improving working environment for all. This policy
is provided and explained to each employee by the company CEO.
To achieve and maintain the required
level of quality assurance, the CEO retains responsibility for the Quality
Assurance System.
The objectives of the Quality Assurance
System are:
a. To maintain an
effective Quality Assurance System complying with International Standard
ISO9001 (Quality Systems).
b.
To achieve and maintain a level of quality which enhances the Company's
reputation with customers.
c.
To ensure compliance with relevant statutory and safety requirements.
d. To endeavor, at all
times, to maximize customer satisfaction with the services provided by
Cognometrics.
3.
Definitions
The terms and descriptions used in this manual are
generally defined within ISO9001:2000 – Quality Systems. Additional definitions apply for items not covered
by ISO9001.
a.
Cognometrics’ ITS services are conducted in accordance with Section
TC204 – Intelligent Transportation Services
4. Authority and Responsibility
The Quality Assurance System applies to all activities of
the company, and has been developed in accordance with ISO9001.
All staff are charged with responsibility of performing
their assigned tasks and duties in accordance with company policy,
contracts/agreements with clients and the procedures set forth in this manual.
All staff share the authority and responsibility of
identifying noncompliances or possible improvements, and recording these
instances such that corrective action can be taken, both to rectify the
immediate situation and to prevent recurrence.
The CEO continually reviews the company's resources to
ensure that adequate staff, equipment and materials are available to meet
customer requirements.
Staff Responsibilities are as follows:
a. CEO
i.
Approval of Quality Assurance System
ii.
Management overview
iii.
Estimating
iv.
Proposal writing
v.
Contract review, negotiation and execution
vi.
Acquisition of project staff and other resources
vii.
Project monitoring
b. Project Manager
i.
Supervision of day-to-day
project activities and staff assigned
ii.
Quality control of all project work products
iii.
Monitoring of work plans to ensure compliance
iv.
Training counseling and mentoring of assigned staff
v.
Preparation and submission of project status reports and other
documentation required by the contract
vi.
Client interaction
c. Project Staff
i.
Conduct research and literature reviews
ii.
Perform analytical and technical work to achieve project objectives and
develop/implement proposed work products
iii.
Ensure work is performed in accordance with contract requirements,
established work plans and the company quality assurance system
5.
Management
Review
Management review of the suitability and effectiveness of
the Quality System shall take place at least twice per year. The objectives of the management review are
to:
a. To establish that the
Quality Assurance System is achieving the expected results and meeting the
Company's requirements, continuing to conform to the standard, continuing to
satisfy the customers needs and expectations, and functioning in accordance
with the established operating procedures.
b. To expose
irregularities or defects in the system, identify weaknesses and evaluate
possible improvements.
c. To review the
effectiveness of previous corrective actions, and to review the adequacy and
suitability of the quality assurance system for current and future operations
of the Company.
d. To review any complaints
received, identify the cause and recommend corrective action if required.
e. To review the finding
of internal/ external audits and identify any areas of recurring problems or
potential improvements.
f.
To
review the reports of nonconforming items and trend information to identify
possible improvements.
6.
Contract
Review
Once a proposal is accepted by the customer, it is recorded
and reviewed to establish that the requirements of the order are adequately
defined and documented, any differences from the proposal are resolved, and the
company is capable of fully satisfying the customers requirements.
7. Quality Control of Analytical and
Scientific Work
All
analytical and scientific work required for project implementation and
fulfillment is strictly controlled to ensure that the resulting work product
complies with customer/ contract requirements, and all design input data.
Analytical
and scientific work is executed by assigned project staff, and is subject to
regular review and verification by the Project Manager, the CEO, and where
relevant, agreement with the Customer.
Project
work products are documented, and where confusion or ambiguity exists, are
clarified and redocumented. All documentation and notes are maintained in a
project file.
The
analyst/scientist assigned to the project is required to specify any
inspections or tests which may verify the design or development of a work
product, at the earliest possible stage of development.
All
changes to project specifications, project plans or the contract are subject to
strict review and documentation control procedures.
8. Documentation and Change Control
All
documentation utilized within the Company related to the management system
itself, or to the execution of individual customer contracts is controlled to
ensure that it is issued to the appropriate personnel, under the correct level
of authority, is revised and reissued as necessary, and all obsolete versions
are removed from the point of use.
Such
documentation typically includes:
·
Customer Contracts
·
Quality
Assurance Manual
·
Project
work Plans
·
Project
Status Reports
·
Research
Report
·
Product
Design and Implementation Reports
The
Quality Assurance Manual, Procedures and Quality Plans are maintained by the
CEO who ensures that the appropriate items, at the correct revision levels, are
issued to all who need them within the Company.
Each
contract has a File which contains all relevant information. Information is
also held on the company's computer system for ease of access and manipulation.
9. Quality Control Plan
A quality control plan will be prepared for all
Cognometrics projects at the time a contract is executed and the project
becomes active. It will define the
following activities:
a.
Start-up Phase
i.
Establish project start date
ii.
Specify date, time, location and participants in project
orientation/start-up meeting to review contract, project goals, key dates and
deliverables
iii.
Conduct orientation meeting
·
Introduce key customer and contractor staff
·
Review project plan as included in proposal
b.
Implementation Phase
i.
Conduct literature review and project research
ii.
Acquire/implement required project infrastructure (e.g. Computer
systems, special software and data files
iii.
Perform Analytical and scientific tasks as required by project proposal
and plan
c.
Project Status Meetings
i.
Conduct meetings according to schedule established in project plan
·
Arrange for conference
calling and web meeting facilities as necessary
ii.
Submit written project status reports and work product/documentation to
customers in advance of meetings
iii.
Review status reports and discuss any work products submitted
iv.
Respond to customer and/or contractor questions
d.
Project Documentation
i.
Project Status Reports – Prepare and submit project status reports to
the customer in advance of all project status meetings in accordance with the
project work plan and the attached format Sample #1
ii.
Work Product
Documentation – Prepare and submit work product documentation to the customer
in accordance with the project work plan and the attached format Sample #2