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Motivation
Pace Engineering's quality journey began in 2012 with New Zealand's Q-Base Code, a Telarc-developed system aligned with ISO 9001:1994. By 2019, Q-Base had become obsolete – Telarc announced its retirement, pushing users toward modern ISO 9001. But for Pace, this wasn't just about compliance. Their leadership saw certification as a dual opportunity: to fix lingering inefficiencies in production/administration and to visibly demonstrate their quality commitment to clients—even if not explicitly demanded.
The Challenge
Pace Engineering's longstanding preference for self-reliance meant their small team faced a delicate balancing act. The looming sunset of Q-Base wasn't just a technical hurdle – it threatened to disrupt a decade of hard-won operational rhythms. Their workforce, deeply fluent in Q-Base's pragmatic Kiwi approach, needed to adapt to ISO 9001's modern framework without losing the simplicity that made their system effective.
We knew we could do it by ourselves with the right tools. Nobody knows our business like we do.
Steve Day
Managing Director
Pace Engineering
Process inefficiencies in production and administration, once tolerated under Q-Base, now demanded solutions that respected their engineering ethos. Every new procedure had to prove its worth on the workshop floor, where teams balanced documentation with real-time machining deadlines and critical projects like the Whirokino Bridge safety rails.
The Solution
Pace Engineering needed a solution that respected their hands-on approach. Our ISO 9001 Certification Toolkit delivered precisely that - pre-configured documentation that bridged Q-Base's practicality with ISO 9001's rigor without bureaucratic bloat.
Crucially, the pre-configured setup eliminated weeks of customization. Templates for machining tolerances, equipment maintenance logs, and project handoffs mirrored Pace's actual workflows – allowing their team to focus on implementation, not translation.
The Certification Toolkit was user friendly and easy to interface with our previous program. There was very good information in the kit, including the user guide.
Warren Osborne
Senior Project Manager
Pace Engineering
The Implementation Phase
When Pace Engineering launched their ISO 9001 implementation in January 2020, Senior Project Manager Warren Osborne and one colleague became the driving force – proving that lean teams could achieve certification excellence. Armed with your DIY Toolkit, they:
Onboarded all employees using the embedded introductory employee training (eliminating external training needs)
Customized templates to bridge Q-Base's legacy processes with ISO requirements
Maintained momentum through COVID-19 lockdowns, leveraging the toolkit's digital format
The secret? "The toolkit spoke our language," Warren explains. Pre-loaded checklists, templates and process-specific instructions allowed them to self-guide the entire work. Even their assigned consultant, Naomi Sato, was only needed briefly to finalize the internal audit program.
Management's full-throated support and employee buy-in proved equally critical. "Our people shaped the system to fit our workflows," Warren notes – a testament to Pace's collaborative culture.
We were surprised at how easy it was to implement the 9001Simplified system and gain the certification we were after. It took us less than 9 months to achieve certification and was manageable with two of us engaged in the implementation.
Warren Osborne
Senior Project Manager
Pace Engineering
The Certification Audit
By October 2020, Pace Engineering's internal audits confirmed their team had fully embraced the new ISO system – paving the way for the official validation on their self-built system: Telarc's rigorous two-day certification review. The outcome surpassed expectations:
Only two minor nonconformities identified (a rarity for legacy-system transitions)
Seven opportunities for improvement noted – all embraced as fuel for continuous growth
Auditor praise for a "comprehensive yet tailored" QMS that put operational reality before paperwork
Warren Osborne called the process "smooth and seamless," a testament to the toolkit's pre-audit checklists and their team's meticulous preparation. Within weeks of addressing the findings, Pace secured their ISO 9001:2015 certificate – completing the journey from Q-Base to ISO compliance in just nine months with only two core implementers.
"We proved that with the right tools, small teams can outpace consultancies," Warren reflected. "This wasn't just certification – it was ownership."
The Results
For Pace Engineering, ISO 9001 was never about fixing what was broken – it was about elevating what already worked. Within months of certification, the team saw tangible wins:
Streamlined production and administrative processes that had long caused friction
A cultural shift toward continuous improvement, with staff embracing a "smarter, sharper" operational mindset
Stronger risk mitigation through documented workflows, future-proofing the business
But for Managing Director Steve Day, the real value was strategic: "ISO became our framework for doing what we've always done – just better. It's not a system we maintain; it's how we now think."
Your Path to the Same Success
If you are a firm who trusts their own expertise, follow Pace Engineering's lead. Pace proved ISO 9001 can amplify – not overhaul your operations. Their toolkit is your toolkit.
Pace Engineering Ltd.
85-95 Katere Road, Fitzroy, New Plymouth, 4341 New Zealand
https://www.paceengineering.co.nz
