The DAMAS team require an auditor to cover the southeast and London region of the UK.  The role requires the candidate to be flexible as the number of audits varies from month to month and you will be managing your own dairy based on your availability. This position is for a self-employed sub-contractor who will be inspecting dental laboratories against the requirements of the DAMAS System. The ideal candidate must have experience of working in a dental laboratory.

Main Purpose of Role

To plan and conduct professional DAMAS audits in accordance with the DAMAS Management System Specification to enable delivery of assessment and certification services that meet customer requirements.

Key Accountabilities

Conduct audits at dental laboratory premises in accordance with established procedures, maintaining a high standard of service delivery that ensures effective customer relationships.

Ensure completion of all assigned work and relevant documentation in accordance with required procedures to fulfil customer expectations.

Provide accurate and timely reporting as required by management to assist the planning and management of operations.

Manage personal schedule to work efficiently and to meet requirements as defined by the DAMAS office.

To manage chargeable expenditure required to fulfil the role in order that customer relations are not compromised.

At all times, adopt a safe behaviour by exercising due regard for the health and safety of yourself, colleagues and clients, in line with the Company’s policies and procedures.

Skills & Knowledge

• Working knowledge of the DAMAS systems (full training will be given).
• Experience of working within a dental laboratory.
• Effective interpersonal skills; able to develop good working relationships with people at all levels.
• Good communication skills with the ability to give clear instructions.
• Effective at report writing and to be IT literate.

As a sub-contractor auditor, you will be self-employed and will supply auditing services to DAMAS International Ltd.  You will be required to travel to audits and therefore you will need to have your own transport and be willing to travel outside of your local area. You will also need to have access to a laptop to enable you to produce audit reports.

Fees payable to DAMAS Auditor sub-contractors – You will be paid a daily audit rate, and all expenses and mileage incurred whilst undertaking DAMAS audits. You will submit a monthly invoice to DAMAS.

Full training will be given on the DAMAS auditing processes.

Important Information – To be considered as a sub-contractor auditor for DAMAS you must not be currently working in or have connection to any dental laboratory in the UK. An important part of the inspection process is the need for confidentially, impartially and trust and as such this is why all auditors must not be already employed within a dental laboratory.

Current DAMAS Registrations:

The number of DAMAS registered laboratories is currently 445. So what does this equate to nationally?

The number of DAMAS registered laboratories is currently 416. So what does this equate to nationally?

What is DAMAS?

The Dental Appliance Manufacturers Audit Scheme (DAMAS) is a quality assurance management system, similar to systems such as ISO 9001, but has been simplified and tailored specifically towards the dental industry. It provides the opportunity for laboratories to become certified as a laboratory that is in compliance with the law.

There are many benefits to being able to call yourself a DAMAS laboratory:

Retaining clients:

As more and more clients, (particularly bigger corporate clients) look for a straightforward way to select their labs, some are now specifying that they will only use labs with such proven registrations as DAMAS and ISO 9001.

The potential to attract new clients:

As the number of DAMAS laboratories continues to grow, when seeking out new laboratories to try, clients will know at a glance that you have proven your labs compliance to the law and a commitment to quality.

Promotion for your laboratory:

Once registered your laboratory will be published on the DAMAS website, making it easier for people to find you.

Peace of mind:

Knowing that your laboratory is in conformity with the requirements of the MDD and MDR, for you and your clients.

A simple to follow management system:

A simple system to help ensure the smooth day-to-day running of your business.

CPD:

After having implemented the system and passed your first external audit, you and your staff will be eligible to receive verifiable CPD.

Becoming DAMAS Registered:

There are a few routes that you can take to start the process:

• Using the DAMAS Specification as a guide implement your own system.
• Buy in the DAMAS Implementation System and follow the guidance provided to implement the system.
• If you have already bought the DAMAS folders, but feel you do not have the time to implement the system yourself or would like more support, a DAMAS Consultant can come into your laboratory and implement your system for you.

For more information on any areas about becoming DAMAS registered or for more details on the amount of CPD you could claim as a DAMAS laboratory please feel free to contact the DAMAS office.

The number of DAMAS registered laboratories is currently 415. So, what does this equate to nationally?

The prospect of having your systems inspected can be quite daunting so to try and allay your fears below is a brief overview of what you can expect to happen on your DAMAS inspection day.

Most laboratories are choosing to purchase an off the shelf system from the DLA which guides you through the implementation stages. It is very important that your laboratory procedures comply with each clause of the DAMAS Specification and it is important to remember that simply buying the ‘DAMAS Implementation System’ from the DLA is not enough to prove compliance.

Once you have implemented all of the procedures to comply with DAMAS you need to check that it actually satisfies the requirements. This check is called internal auditing. What you may find by undertaking this internal audit is that not everything is being done correctly – this is called a nonconformity. Don’t worry about getting nonconformities just fix them and make sure they don’t happen again. Once you have one internal audit under your belt, you should carry out a management review which should determine if your system has been compromised by the number of nonconformities found.

When you are satisfied that your system meets the requirements of DAMAS, and you have a minimum of three months records, you may then apply to have your audit.

On the day of the assessment, the assessor will explain what will happen during the day. They will then assess your system for conformity with the DAMAS requirements. This will be done by examining samples of your records and assessing if these are sufficient to demonstrate conformity. The assessor will need a tour of your laboratory to look how your processes are undertaken which will include amongst other things, booking in, booking out and final inspection.

The assessor will take lots of notes and ask different questions about all different aspects of your manufacturing processes. Don’t worry about this. The assessor has to make records of their assessment so that random checks may be made to ensure that assessors are doing the job correctly!

When the assessor has finished, they will confirm any nonconformities they have found. It is up to you to fix nonconformities. In some instances, the assessor will guide you in the right direction but there are limitations on what guidance they can give. In all circumstances the assessor will let you know how to complete any paperwork which puts right any nonconformities that are identified.

In most cases, the assessor will find nonconformities of a minor nature that can be quickly fixed and that are not a cause for concern. The assessor will advise you that, in their opinion, your system meets the DAMAS requirements and that they will be recommending your registration as a DAMAS laboratory.

The DLA will confirm your DAMAS registration in writing and provide a copy of the DAMAS logo which may be used to promote your DAMAS status and on your lab stationery and lab tickets. It is also worthwhile writing to your clients to tell them about your success and that you now have independent proof that you are complying with the law, namely the Medical Devices Regulations and Medical Devices Directive. This is principally what DAMAS is about!