QM Projects

QM Projects (Quality Management Projects Ltd) is a consulting, training and process auditing company based in Newhaven, East Sussex. Led by principal director and consultant Ian Walker, a Chartered Quality Professional and Member of the Chartered Quality Institute, the firm helps organisations build, certify and maintain ISO management systems.

Who they serve

QM Projects describes itself as a generalist consultancy, working with organisations ranging from two-person businesses to large blue-chip companies. Its stated client sectors include precision engineering, scientific and medical instrument manufacturing, aerospace, education, furniture design and manufacture, specialist printing, construction (including structural steel factory production control), beauty product manufacturing, adhesives and sealants, injection plastic moulding, technology recycling and lift installation engineering. The firm works across East and West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Kent, Surrey and London, and its case studies include clients elsewhere in the UK.

Standards and services

• ISO 9001 quality, ISO 14001 environmental and ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management systems
• ISO 13485 for medical devices, ISO 27001 information security, ISO 50001 energy management and AS9100 aerospace
• BS EN 1090-1 and 1090-2 for structural steel, FSC Chain of Custody and ESOS energy management system auditing
• Process mapping, written procedures, policies and manuals
• Internal audits, including outsourced quality manager and internal auditor roles
• Internal auditor training, quality awareness training, COSHH assessment workshops and management coaching

How they work

Clients are assigned a dedicated project manager to keep the certification process as simple as possible. All training is run in-house using the client's own processes, either on the client's premises or at a nearby venue, and internal auditor courses are priced per course rather than per person, ideally for groups of four. The firm does not run public courses. After certification, businesses can outsource ongoing support for continual improvement, and several case studies describe retained arrangements such as a monthly visit as outsourced quality manager and internal auditor. QM Projects states that costs for small businesses depend on sector, turnover and number of employees.

What sets them apart

QM Projects publishes an extensive list of client case studies, many showing support through several recertification cycles. The firm was named Environmental Management Consultancy of the Year 2022 in the Corporate Livewire Innovation and Excellence Awards and Best Environmental Management Systems Consultancy 2021 by SME News. It is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses and the Sussex Chamber of Commerce.

Published case studies cover ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 13485 and BS EN 1090-1 projects for clients including Lomas Steel Structures, Land Science, Ultimate Sports Engineering, West Sussex Office & Educational Furniture and Flint International, plus outsourced quality manager and internal audit roles.