Introduction
It's
Chriiiiiiiiistmas! Welcome to this festive edition of thepulse,
Gael Quality's quarterly Q-Pulse e-mail newsletter.
In
this edition of thepulse, we bring you, amongst
other things, news of our recent user groups, our special recognition
at this year's Fast 50 awards and a Christmas competition.
Q-Pulse
NG > User Groups > Is this the way to Amarillo?
Music,
laughter, song, dancing, the user group had it all. Shame it
was at the children’s party on the other side of the dividing
wall! The highlight of the entertainment had to be the rousing
rendition of “Alice, Alice, who the **** is Alice?”
although “Show me the way to Amarillo” was a popular
choice too.
Despite
this little hiccup, all the user groups, including the Dublin
one described above, went well.
It
looks like Q-Pulse Next Generation will be a number one smash,
like the Tony Christie hit, with the users. The new user interface
was particularly popular.
The
feedback was extremely positive. This particularly related to
the new Launch Pad feature, easier search facilities, simpler
report creation and increased security options. The reworking
seemed to exceed the expectations of many of the Users in attendance.
Q-Pulse
Next Generation will provide users with a single framework that
can manage multiple standards across disconnected systems, including
Quality, Safety and the Environment.
Martin
Bowman, Sales Director said:
'We've
offered web previews over the last few months, but this was
the users' first chance to see the system before its release.
As a complete rework in all but name, the next generation of
Q-Pulse is an important step forwards in both the development
of the product and compliance management. We’re really
excited about the Next Generation and it’s great to see
the users getting excited too.'
The
user groups provided an overview of the changes to Q-Pulse Version
4.2 that the next generation incorporates, including the system's
redesigned look-and-feel. The modules were explored in as much
detail as possible, particularly looking at the additional functionality.
Next Generation should, after a little additional training,
make the lives of Quality Managers easier.
Here
are a few of the attendees comments:
‘I
must express my enthusiasm for the new product and look forward
to my prelaunch version…[Next Generation] will appeal
to others in the organisation not just myself as Quality Manager,
there is more and more legislation, especially EU, that requires
control to be shown in other departments.’
Maureen
Smalls, Bedford Opto Technology Ltd
‘…as
a first off impression, the Next Generation looked excellent
and widened the scope and increased user friendliness beyond
bounds…Thanks for the User Group meeting it was good to
talk to so many other users from different fields.’
Ray
Forster, FR Aviation
'Many
thanks for an excellent and very informative day. Excellent
venue and speakers.'
Graham
Walker, Dept of Haemotology, North Glasgow University Hospitals
Division
In
addition, Emirates are to host a user group in Dubai in mid-January
at their Training Academy. The Dubai user group is open to Emirates,
other companies in the UAE and aviation companies.
The
web-based user groups, recorded on the 13th and 15th December,
will be published on the website in January.
For further details of our user groups and Q-Pulse Next Generation
contact us now at info@gaelquality.com.
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Q-Pulse
NG > Features> Pride and Prejudice
Chariots
of Fire is playing as you sprint across the finishing line.
The crowd are cheering and clapping. You are so proud that your
heart could burst. What a great life, being an athlete and winning
your first gold medal…Who could fail to recognise pride
in the faces of athletes as they stand on the winner’s
podiums?
This
sort of pride, in the normal workplace, is sometimes harder
to find.
Within
your organisation, it usually takes a little bit more hard work
to help staff have pride in their work and be responsible for
their own actions. They are often prejudiced against systems
that are in place to keep standards high. Currently Compliance
Management systems are often fiddly to use. Many staff don’t
appreciate the real benefit of their existence and they can
be viewed as devices of control that are in place to catch staff
out.
Encouraging
ownership and pride in your management system requires more
than simply ensuring that staff are aware of and completing
actions for which they are responsible, although this is important
too. Ownership can be partly achieved by enhancing access to
your management system and raising awareness of its responsibilities
In
paper-based systems ownership is extremely difficult to achieve:
information is scattered throughout the organisation and employees
have restricted interaction with the system. Employees therefore
feel disconnected from the management system and their ownership
of the actions resulting from the system suffers.
While
no solution can guarantee ownership as it is dependent on the
individual, the next generation of Q-Pulse enables staff to
customise the interface and is much more user friendly. This
customisation of the interface, through a new facility called
Launch Pad, offers users short-cut access to their most frequently
used processes. This means that it is easy for your staff to
interact with the processes that are relevant to their role
within the organisation. They can see at a glance any outstanding
actions they need to complete and are responsible for.
By
integrating this with the customisable Launch Pad interface
and automatic email notification, you can reduce the time required
to complete actions. This will mean staff should be happier
to use the system, which will in turn increase staff ownership
of the QMS. To encourage ownership, the system with which you
administrate your organisation’s management system should
be easy-to-use and accessible by all relevant parties. The next
generation of Q-Pulse can meet these needs.
You
may not be an Olympic athlete yourself or giving out gold medals
to staff. You can however help encourage them to achieve greater
ownership and pride. By helping them achieve it, you’ll
ensure that your organisation is keeping in line with industry
standards and using up-to-date processes and documents. You
will also reduce the occurrence of ongoing issues resulting
from audits and unaddressed non-conformances. This will ultimately
lead to the success of your Quality Management System.
For
more information on the next generation of Q-Pulse, keep an
eye on our website for web seminars previewing the tool. For
details on the Q-Pulse NG release schedule, contact info@gaelquality.com.
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Safety
First
‘There's
no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest
of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows
how to fly a plane?’*
Air
Safety has often been a joking matter for comedians and in films
such as Airplane. For those who work in the industry, however,
it’s no laughing matter.
Air
Safety is of major importance in these days of ever more congested
airspace and heightened security. There are more and more airlines
in the world competing for business, whether it is passenger
or cargo transport. Competition is fierce. However, reassuringly,
airlines do not compete over Quality and Safety and there is
a great element of knowledge sharing, benchmarking and best
practice when it comes to these matters.
As
a direct result of this, Q-Pulse has grown in this area through
referrals and recommendations rather than direct marketing.
This
month we’ve provided a system to another member of the
SAS Group, SAS Cargo. The solution was to provide a central
Corrective Action and Improvement Opportunity Management System
for their operations in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. This was
made possible due to our existing long-term relationships with
many other members of the SAS Group, including SAS Technical,
SAS Ground Services, SAS Braathens, Blue1 and AirBaltic.
Aviation
companies have found that Q-Pulse works in tandem with the regulations
that govern the industry to ensure best practice is met.
Other
new customers this month included Siemens Business Services
in Dubai. Gael Quality is to provide a Document Control System
for Siemens Logistics and Assembly Systems for their project
provision of an automated Baggage Handling System for the new
Terminal 4 of Dubai International Airport.
Nicholas
Campbell, International Development Manager from Gael said:
‘Over
the last 3 years, the Aviation sector has been a major focus
for us. We’ve found that due to the specific nature of
Q-Pulse and its methodology and ability to be customised, it’s
been a perfect fit for JAR, EASA and FAA regulations. Within
the Aviation sector Q-Pulse is used for ongoing compliance management
as well as specific areas such as Deviation Report Handling.
‘In
addition, we’re looking to further increase our own understanding
of compliance issues within this market by engaging directly
with our Aviation customers at our Q-Pulse user group in Dubai.
We are running this in conjunction with another of our long-term
customers, Emirates Airlines.’
For
further details on Q-Pulse within the aviation industry, contact
Nicholas Campbell at campbelln@gaelquality.com
or on +44 1355 593 421.
*Airplane, 1980, Jim Abrahams & David Zucker
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Legislation,
Legislation, Legislation
Some
people may think that legislation means mountains of rules and
regulations which don’t really mean an awful lot. Sometimes
this can be the case. However, this is usually not the case
in the healthcare industry. Legislation is important and can
be life-saving.
Within
the global healthcare industry, organisations must comply with
a growing number of legislative and regulatory requirements.
Organisations must meet the requirements to ensure the high
quality and safety of their products and services.
Blood
disease, for example, is an area of concern for many people.
In the last few years, legislation has been tightened after
cases where people were infected with disease after receiving
infected blood. More than 100 people infected with the hepatitis
C virus through blood transfusions won compensation totalling
millions of pounds in the high court in 2001.
Obviously
this is a costly and dangerous problem that, at the time, shook
many people’s faith in the safety of blood products.
From
the 8th of November, the new UK Blood Safety and Quality Regulations
come fully into force to ensure the high level of quality and
safety of human blood and components. The new Regulations require
all organisations involved in collecting and processing blood
to be inspected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency (MHRA).
The
MHRA and other assessment bodies recommend that healthcare organisations
implement and maintain a Quality Management System (QMS). This
is to ensure the provision of high-quality, patient-focused
services. It can mean healthcare organisations can maintain
and improve the quality of their services. They can also reassure
patients on the safety of their products and have a way to prove
the quality of their service to assessment bodies.
This
has resulted in growth in the customer base for Gael within
the healthcare industry. To help our customers in this area,
we’ve produced a series of executive briefing documents.
The documents cover a broad range of healthcare disciplines,
including oncology, pathology and radiology. They take an in-depth
look at how organisations can achieve regulatory compliance
with Q-Pulse.
In
addition to these documents, we provide a comprehensive guide
to help pathology laboratories meet CPA requirements for the
recording and controlling of reagents.
As
the compliance management solution for the UK healthcare market,
Q-Pulse enables healthcare organisations to achieve continuous
improvement beyond regulatory compliance.
For
a free briefing document on using Q-Pulse to meet the requirements
of the EU Blood Direct then please email us on info@gaelquality.com.
For
a free guidance document on managing reagents in Q-Pulse contact
Emma Richardson on richardsone@gaelquality.com
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Gael
shows real stamina
*Gael's
Marketing Director Karen Hewitt collects the award from Natasha
Kaplinsky
For the eighth consecutive year, Gael Quality has been recognised
as a high-growth leader in the Scottish technology sector in
Deloitte and Touche's prestigious Technology Fast 50 Awards.
Despite
the challenges encountered by companies in the technology sector
over the last few years, Gael Quality has achieved a 336% growth
rate year-on-year over the last five years.
By
ranking the fastest-growing technology, media and telecommunications
(TMT) companies in Scotland on percentage growth in turnover,
the Awards identify the trends shaping the TMT sectors today.
This year’s awards were held at Edinburgh’s International
Conference Centre.
In
addition to ranking as one of Scotland’s high-growth technology
leaders, Gael Quality was celebrated as one of only four companies
to have received the Fast 50 Award every year since the UK programme
began in 1998, with a special award presented by compere Natasha
Kaplinski.
Martin
Bowman, Gael Quality’s Sales Director said, ‘To
have received this award in recognition of our consistent growth
eight years in a row represents a substantial achievement for
us. As well as celebrating our success as a company, this award
confirms our vision of achieving improvement beyond compliance.’
Neil
Cruickshanks, Head of Deloitte’s Technology, Media and
Telecommunications group said, ‘The last five years have
been challenging for many technology companies [and] with that
in mind it’s particularly pleasing to be able to celebrate
real success stories at the Fast 50.’
For
this year’s Technology Fast 50 rankings, visit Deloitte’s
Fast 50 web site at www.fast50.co.uk.
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Wonders
of the World Wide Web
A
web of world-wide wonders. Try saying that after you've had
a few! Apparently there are 7 Wonders of the Modern World. Included
amongst these are The Empire State Building and The Panama Canal.
One that isn’t included, and perhaps should be, is the
World Wide Web. Some would say it is the greatest invention
since the wheel. You don’t have to go that far to admit
its significance.
What
did we do before the Internet was invented?
How
did people find out information and how could businesses ever
have been global?
Back
in the dark ages before the Internet and email, people still
had their means and ways but they didn’t allow for as
many possibilities.
This
was shown by the recent web user groups where 50-60 users were
online at each session. There were users online from the UK,
Eire, Chile, Singapore, Europe, Israel, the USA and Canada.
According to the feedback, the users loved the format. It was
a fully interactive session and an appropriate way to reach
people. Full use of the chat facility was made and the recording
facility was used to keep a track of what's happening for the
benefit of other users.
The reach the web allows for would have been impossible previously.
Users from across the globe can speak to other users and discuss
issues and shared problems and come to solutions together with
the help of the team at Gael.
Maybe
in a couple of hundred years time, the web will be viewed as
one of the Wonders of the World. Until then, don’t underestimate
the possibilities it makes available to you and your business.
The recorded sessions looked at Q-Pulse Next Generation. To
hear them, log onto the Support section of www.gaelquality.com
in January.
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Gael
Flying High with Dubai User Group
With
D-day for the launch of the next generation of Q-Pulse around
the corner, Gael hosted a series of User Groups in the UK and
Eire throughout November and December. One client was so enthused
by the opportunities presented by the new product that they
have decided to invite Gael to their training academy to have
a more in-depth look at the new features and how it would aid
their organisation.
Gael
received extremely positive feedback from all the users who
were in attendance at the recent User Groups. It gave a chance
for our existing Q-Pulse Users to see and discuss the next generation
of the Software and allowed Gael Quality to gain valuable customer
feedback. The next date to look out for is April 2006. This
is the release date following work with our Beta testers.
The
users were given a first glimpse of the new features including
the Launch Pad and new report facilities.
Despite
Gael’s intention to hold web-based user groups for our
international customers in December, many companies could not
wait to get their first peek at the next Generation version.
In particular, we had many overseas Avaition customers attending
the UK user groups including AirBaltic, Air Seychelles, SAS
Braathens, SAS Ground Services, DHL, Fokker Elmo and Emirates
Airlines.
Following
the East Kilbride User Group, Emirates recognised great value
in hosting a more detailed version in Dubai. This will be open
to their own users of the product, other UAE-based companies
and Aviation companies.
Nick
Campbell, Gael’s International Development Manager said:
‘We’re
delighted with in the number of overseas attendees to our User
Groups. We thank them for the special effort made especially
Emirates to their generous offer of hosting their own User Group.
We hope to see many of our long term Aviation customers there.’
The
Dubai user group will be hosted by Emirates Airlines and held
on the 17th January at Emirates’ Training Academy. For
more information on our user groups, contact Zoe Blake, blakez@gaelquality.com
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Wake
up call for dull presentations
The
sound of the same monotonous voice, droning on and on. Lumpy
seats and either too much air-conditioning or too little. What
was the point again?
It’s
easy to lose sight of your purpose, and even the will to live,
when you are sitting in a dull presentation listening to the
same person speak all day.
The
subject matter might be interesting, but you’ve probably
forgotten what was mentioned earlier.
Feedback
isn’t noted and it sometimes feels like a waste of time
being there.
Every
day millions of presentations are delivered. The majority are
like the ones described above. Dull, uninspiring and they often
leave participants with the feeling they have wasted their time
by attending.
Bullet
point after bullet point is often delivered in applications
like PowerPoint. The screen starts to swim in front of you –
it is difficult to follow what is happening.
Luckily
this was not the case at the recent Q-Pulse user groups, judging
by the responses and comments received afterwards.
Gael’s
MindGenius software was used throughout the user groups to enable
a continuous real-time gathering and presentation of the feedback.
This was welcomed by the Q Pulse user group attendees and kept
them involved.
MindGenius
is keyword driven. Only the main points from a presentation
are viewed on screen. At a glance it is possible to remember
what the main ideas are. What a difference to other presentation
applications where you need to view slide after slide of information
to gain a general idea of what’s happening. MindGenius
allows you to see the big picture but all the detail too.
Several
customers were so impressed they purchased MindGenius afterwards.
Paul Van Doninck, the Director of Safety & Quality Planning
SAS Ground Services AB said "I can definitely see the benefits
of using MindGenius. As a service provider to airlines, precision
is key to us, and MindGenius can help us to be more efficient
in planning and analysis."
If
you were unable to attend the User Groups, you can get a preview
of the software when the Web Based User Groups are published
in January at www.gaelquality.com.
MindGenius
can’t get you a comfier seat or change the thermostat
in the room, but it will keep you interested. If you are yourself
giving a presentation, it can help you plan it more effectively
and collate feedback and comments in real time.
This
is only one of many tasks that MindGenius can help you with.
See
www.mindgenius.com for
more details.
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Caption
Competition
Christmas
is the time for giving and sharing so we would like you to share
with us, your thoughts for a caption for the photo at www.gaelquality.com/photo.
It
was taken at the recent User Group and no, we're not quite sure
what Paul was doing either! Is it a version of the timewarp?
The
best answer will receive 5 free MindGenius licences and 2 hours
free web training on using the software for brainstorming or
root cause analysis.
Send
your entries to info@gaelquality.com.
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That's
it for this edition of thepulse.
All
that's left to say is Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and All
the Best for 2006!
The
next edition will be with you in April but if you can't wait
until then, you can check out our regular news, forums and information
on Gael Quality and on compliance issues at www.gaelquality.com.
thepulse
is your newsletter and we want you to tell us what you want
– and don't want – to read in it. If you have any
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