SimpleQuE Shines the Spotlight on Jim Bannan, ISO consultant, auditor and trainer

In the spotlight is simpleQuE’s ISO guru, Jim Bannan. Learn more about Jim, as he shares his life and business philosophies and see what makes him an excellent (and fun) quality management consultant.

Thinking back over your career, what is the professional accomplishment you are most proud of achieving and why?

I would say that is my transition from working in industry to creating my own company working as a consultant. I love what I do and I am glad every day that I took the leap.

Client satisfaction is pinnacle to your background. What are your client-focused approaches at simpleQuE?

First and foremost…LISTEN!! The client will tell you what they want and need if you listen to them. Also, I try to make sure my clients are comfortable with me by being light and having fun. We can still get the work done and have fun at the same time. Finally, I strive to teach most of all. It does no one any good if we tell the customer to do and never say why. As Simon Sinek says “start with the why”.

What is the best advice you ever received?

My wife taught me this…enjoy people. Enjoy your children. Enjoy what you have and be thankful. I wasn’t always good at that.

What career lessons have you learned thus far that you’d like to share?

I don’t always have to be right and I don’t have to know every answer. I just have to know where to get that answer.

There are a lot of ways to solve a problem and craft a solution. The more people we include in the solution, the better off we are. There are many roads to Rome.

Do you have a favorite quote?

I am not really sure who said it, but it is less of a quote and more of a question. Is this the hill you want to die on? I ask myself that whenever there is a difference in opinion or a disagreement.

Who is your hero?

I would say my personal hero is Ronald Reagan. He took a stand and did what he felt was right. He faced down the Soviet Union and presided over the end of the Cold War. He was not perfect and some of his policies turned out to be less than effective, but he dug us out of a funk when the country really needed it.

Any favorite line from a movie?

From the Princess Bride…Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You have killed my father…prepare to die!” I have SOOOOO many other movie quotes I really love.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you?

I think probably Dan Ackroyd or maybe John Cleese.

Favorite travel spot?

Myrtle Beach…we love the beach and Myrtle is just the best.

Top life highlight or accomplishment?

Adopting my two kids. I love them beyond words and I am thrilled that I get to be a dad to two great human beings.

What is your favorite QMS standard and why?

My favorite is 9001, I guess, because it is the granddaddy of them all. I also like 45001 because I like the health and safety field.

 How do you stay current in your areas of expertise?

I work for a third party CB and they provide training. Also, I have purchased and taken multiple training courses for various standards (including 9001, 14001, 45001, HACCP and more) and I also take training from LinkedIn on various topics. I love to learn and I want to pass on the latest information to my clients.

 Explain how simpleQuE is different from their competition.

SimpleQuE’s difference is in the name: simple. Systems are not effective when they are so complex that people can’t or won’t use them. Unnecessary bells and whistles only add to cost and take away from value added work that actually means something to customers.

What are your hopes for our industry?

I hope that our industry will continue to focus on helping clients to make their businesses better. Sometimes I think that there is too much focus on following the rules and not enough on helping clients compete in an international market where the playing field is not always level. There is room to make sure the rules are observed, but that has to be with an eye toward making the company better.

What is the best book you have ever read?

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy…I grew up on those.

What music is on your iPhone/Android phone?

No music, really…but a TON of podcasts!

What one food do you wish had zero calories?

Beer

How would other people describe you in three words?

I would hope they see me as competent, kind and funny.