Research scientists play a pivotal role in society. Their passion for science will drive them forward, leading to new discoveries that will ultimately make the world a better place. Unfortunately, as the professional environment becomes more and more competitive, research scientists today cannot just rely on technical knowledge to carve successful careers. Besides technical skills, they will need to acquire other skills, such as how to communicate their science to the outside world. A Survival Guide for Research Scientists is a one-stop-shop that will help you to develop those core skills not often taught at school or university. The book has been written by an author with more than 20 years of scientific research experience (across different scientific disciplines). She has not only been a research scientist but also a writer, a consultant, a sole-trader and a project manager. A Survival Guide for Research Scientists takes on a holistic approach in order to help you pave the way for success. As such, it features practical guidelines on how to: • conduct your scientific research (how to: do literature review, design experiments, adopt best practice, ensure health and safety, etc.). • write and edit (reports, bid proposals, peer review publications, etc). • interact with the outside world (be a team leader, manage a project, network, deal with difficult people, do presentations, organise meetings, etc.). • look after your career (and get your dream job). • look after yourself (and how to manage stress). • look for a job (develop your CV, prepare for interviews, etc.). • become self-employed (and achieve business success). • deal with redundancy (and move forward in life, etc) Whatever your scientific background may be, this book is the perfect accompaniment, to guide you at every stage of your career.

They’re supposed to be useful tools, but whether they’re printouts, computer files, flowcharts, or forms, documents can often give more headaches than help. And yet without them, most organizations couldn’t function. ISO 9001 and other quality management systems place great emphasis on documents, and for good reason. Documents aren’t individual, stand-alone elements of the management process. They’re interrelated, formatted in different media, and controlled by various and distinct functions. Keeping critical information current and in the right hands requires more than just signing off on procedures. Document control is essential, but where should you begin? Inside you’ll find clear explanations about the document control process as well as practical solutions for creating, organizing, and maintaining documents, including: A discussion of different kinds of documents, including electronic media and QMS requirements Identifying and defining responsibility Understanding the relationship between documents and records Tips for document writers Managing and maintaining documents Issues of accessibility Handling revisions and deviations Writing document control procedures

As a society, we tend to reward problem solvers, rather than those who prevent problems at their source. In other words, we focus on after-the-fact occurrences (appraisal activities) instead of trying to eliminate these occurrences (preventing activities). Discussing and evaluating the core requirements of quality efficiency and improvement, 10 Essentials for High Performance Quality in the 21st Century proposes an approach to help shift the paradigm of quality from appraisal mode to preventing mode. Identifying 10 steps readers can follow to optimize the quality of products and improve customer satisfaction, the book explains the rationale behind each of the steps in separate chapters. It addresses specific quality issues in six different sectors of the economy and provides statistics, tables, and figures from various organizations that support the need for a paradigm shift. Outlining a systematic process to guide your organization along the path toward improvement, the book covers risk and quality, multicultural management, empowerment, error analysis, team building, advanced quality planning, and quality operating systems. The accompanying CD provides tips and tools to help you implement all the necessary improvement initiatives under the umbrella of quality.

Whether you are establishing a quality management system for the first time or improving your existing system, this best-selling guide to effective quality management using the ISO 9000 family of standards as a framework for business process management (BPM) and improvement is an essential addition to your quality bookshelf. For newcomers to the field and those needing a refresh on the fundamental principles, quality expert David Hoyle covers the crucial background including the importance and implications of quality system management, enabling those seeking ISO 9001 certification to take a holistic approach that will bring about true business improvement and sustained success. Packed with insights into how the standard has been used, misused and misunderstood, ISO 9000 Quality Systems Handbook will help you to build an effective management system, help you decide if ISO 9001 certification is right for your company and gently guide you through the terminology, requirements and implementation of practices to enhance performance. With chapter headings matched to the structure of the standard and clause numbers included for ease of reference, each chapter now also begins with a preview to help you decide which to study and which to skip. The book also includes essential concepts and principles, important issues to be understood before embarking upon implementation, different approaches that can be taken to achieving, sustaining and improving quality, and guidance on system assessment, certification and continuing development. Clear tables, summary checklists and diagrams make light work of challenging concepts and downloadable template report forms, available from the book's companion website, take the pain out of compiling the necessary documentation. Don't waste time trying to achieve certification without this tried and trusted guide to improving your business—let David Hoyle lead you towards a better quality management system and see the difference it can make to your processes and profits!