No cow on the ice

My interest in quality systems for independent businesses began when I got an exasperated "What's your hurry - there's no cow on the ice", when a local supplier was asked for a written estimate for supplying and fitting a central heating system in the house we were renovating.

It is a good example of poor quality. After another request for a price and date of delivery was brushed aside, we went for a different heating system. Even though there are many excellent examples of good quality practices, it is the bad ones that remain in the customer's memory.

I live in an agricutural area where things until recently have been based on "that's the way we always do it" and "well, that's how things are". I must say that I have also come across very many highly competent and pro-active businesses here, and things have changed for the better in the last 8 years. More competing small businesses are collaborating as 'konkollegas' who, by working together, are able to handle bigger projects.

My dream is a network of local businesses of all kinds who can handle really diverse projects. The common denominator - apart from being local on Lolland-Falster and maybe the Fehmern area - will be work of a high quality, certified by an independent evaluator. Not necessarily to the lengths demanded by the ISO9000 Standards, but high enough so that our clients know that although diverse trades and skills are involved, good quality work and professional conduct is guaranteed.

This blog, and its assocater Twitter feed, will cover the process for micros and small SMEs from both national and international aspects - we can probably learn a great deal from the experiences of others.