TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Tech writers and ISO9000 From:"Daniel G. Dresner" <daniel -dot- dresner -at- NCC -dot- CO -dot- UK> Date:Mon, 19 May 1997 11:57:44 +0000
> I have heard, but have not personally confirmed it, that many ISO
> consultants advise _against_ the use of technical writers for
> writing ISO documentation.
What? What? What? Well tell these consultants that here is a
technical writer who specialises in quality management system, QMS,
(particularly ISO 9000 series . . with TickIT). I recommend technical
authors for writing procedures. HOWEVER I never recommend contract
authors (or anyone external to the organization in question) but only
those authors resident in the company - who will retain some
long-term ownership for what they are doing. The QMS is a living
entity and must be kept up to date to be of value.
Interestingly enough (or perhaps not) it is because I am a technical
writer that I appreciate that an effective QMS is not an exercise in
documentation but in good communication. NCC has just published a
handout quick guide to IT Quality that really just covers the good
honest customer-facing quality attitudes of a good tech. pubs
department. QMS has always been a friend to the technical author
because when all else fails, it provides a degree of in-house
'legislation' that gets you that technical review or the latest
issue of the specification.
Regards to all.
************************************************************
Danny Dresner
NCC Quality Manager
The National Computing Centre Ltd.
Oxford House, Oxford Road
Manchester M1 7ED, UK
daniel -dot- dresner -at- ncc -dot- co -dot- uk
Tel: +44 (0)161 228 6333 Direct Line: +44 (0)161 242 2352
Fax: +44 (0)161 236 9877 http://www.ncc.co.uk/
"Logic . . . merely allows one to be wrong with authority!"
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
