Tara Carruthers Email and Phone Number

We aim to help businesses implement and maintain their QMS to meet organisational and regulatory requirements.

At DSB Co we aim to eliminate the subjectivity and “Art” of surgery by developing new objective orthopaedic instruments. We develop data led products that improve patient outcomes.

I have a passion for quality assurance and auditing companies against their standard requirements to assist in improving their businesses.Key Responsibilities• Planning and conducting audit and audit related services in a timely and effective manner, employing the relevant risk assessment standards or assessment criteria and maintaining the audit process rigor and technical integrity, to meet internal and external accreditation requirements• ISO9001:2008 - Quality… Show more I have a passion for quality assurance and auditing companies against their standard requirements to assist in improving their businesses.Key Responsibilities• Planning and conducting audit and audit related services in a timely and effective manner, employing the relevant risk assessment standards or assessment criteria and maintaining the audit process rigor and technical integrity, to meet internal and external accreditation requirements• ISO9001:2008 - Quality Management System Standard, • ISO13485:2003 - Medical Device Quality Management Systems, • LAW9000• ISO20252:2012 Market Research Standards, • Financial Planning Standards, • National Standards for Disability Services, • Department of Human Service Standards and • National Advocacy Standards.• As Lead Auditor, responsible for communications across an audit team, project managing multi-site activities and consolidation of report findings as required by the client.• Managing relationships and contracts with various external parties such as standard specifiers, regulatory agencies, and industry associations • Client Manager, requiring attendance at client meetings, planning the audit, liaising with the client and appropriate support staff in accordance with operational procedures, delivering and/or project managing the audit service and negotiating future audit dates/plan with the client• As Verifying Auditor, mentoring, training, verifying and making recommendations for the approval of trainee auditors.• As SME, focused on the Medical Device industry sector or program, and held responsibility to ensure the integrity and technical rigor of the program meets internal and external accreditation requirements Key Achievements• Managing all Australian and New Zealand ISO13485:2003 audits• Management of audits across a diverse range of standards and industries Show less

Key responsibilities• Manage a staff of 14 in various quality and training activities• As part of the Senior Management team develop and implement the organisation’s strategic direction• Maintenance of Management Systems to the following standards: ISO9001 ISO13485 ISO14001• Management of CSA and UL certification on our client’s behalf• Internal audit and management of non-compliances identified• Supplier Audit and management of non-compliances… Show more Key responsibilities• Manage a staff of 14 in various quality and training activities• As part of the Senior Management team develop and implement the organisation’s strategic direction• Maintenance of Management Systems to the following standards: ISO9001 ISO13485 ISO14001• Management of CSA and UL certification on our client’s behalf• Internal audit and management of non-compliances identified• Supplier Audit and management of non-compliances identified• Work with the Business Development team to attract new clients and facilitate customer site audits• Implementation of the Lean Manufacturing Philosophy and activities• Management of product corrective action teams for internal and customer identified issues• Management of the training program• Present quality results to clients through Business Reviews on a regular basisKey Achievements• Process re-engineering for the Contract Quote Process• Lean Implementation and creation of self-contained work cells• Accreditation audit for ISO13485, ISO9001 and ISO14001 accreditation Show less

In 2010 Varian Inc was purchased by Agilent Technologies. After the purchase I continued in the Quality Manager role as described below.

Key responsibilities• Manage a team of 6 staff in various areas of responsibility for quality activities• Maintenance of Varian Australia Business Management System to ISO9008:2000 standard for all Australian sites• Internal auditing and management of non-compliances.• Facilitate customer audits• Auditing supplier’s quality systems• Management of Continuous Improvement Process • Management of product quality issues• Manage product hold and recall… Show more Key responsibilities• Manage a team of 6 staff in various areas of responsibility for quality activities• Maintenance of Varian Australia Business Management System to ISO9008:2000 standard for all Australian sites• Internal auditing and management of non-compliances.• Facilitate customer audits• Auditing supplier’s quality systems• Management of Continuous Improvement Process • Management of product quality issues• Manage product hold and recall activities• Provision of Quality advice and guidance for new product introduction• Develop and conduct internal training programs• Management of Warranty and Installation data and action – Policy formation issues• Provision of Analytical Instrument Qualification products for Varian Australia’s pharmaceutical clients• Management of Product Assurance Activities – CSA Certification, CE Compliance• Approve export activities and shipment of goods overseas according Australian and US Government Requirements (Export of Dangerous Goods and ITAR controls)Key Achievements• Quality involvement in FT-IR New Product Introduction• International Supplier Audits• Lean Manufacturing Program Implementation Show less

Key responsibilities• Maintenance of Varian Australia Business Management System to ISO9001:2000 standard for all Australian sites• Chair the Business Management Review for the senior management team• Develop and conduct internal training programs• Training and monitoring of Internal Audit Team • Internal auditing and management of non conformances.• Auditing supplier’s quality systems• Facilitate customer audits• Management of Continuous Improvement Process… Show more Key responsibilities• Maintenance of Varian Australia Business Management System to ISO9001:2000 standard for all Australian sites• Chair the Business Management Review for the senior management team• Develop and conduct internal training programs• Training and monitoring of Internal Audit Team • Internal auditing and management of non conformances.• Auditing supplier’s quality systems• Facilitate customer audits• Management of Continuous Improvement Process • Management of product quality issues• Management of product corrective action teams• Provision of Analytical Instrument Qualification (AIQ) products for Varian Australia pharmaceutical customers• Provision of training programs for global Varian staff to implementation AIQ at customer sites• Significant involvement in the Sarbanes Oxley processKey Achievements• Global Standardization of Analytical Instrument Qualification Packages for instruments sold into the Pharmaceutical industry • Training of Internal Auditors• Implementation of Quality and Safety Management Systems at Varian – USA Location Integral role in Sarbanes Oxley Year 1 Compliance• Sarbanes Oxley Audit at Varian UK Office Show less

Key responsibilitiesMy role at Utili-Mode required me to provide the organization focus on quality assurance activities to ensure excellent customer service to their clients and their client's customers. • Facilitated Accreditation to the International Customer Service Standard• Project Manager for entry to Customer Service Excellence Awards – Achieved High Commendation • Developed Operational Excellence Program for United Energy• High participation in Excellence on the… Show more Key responsibilitiesMy role at Utili-Mode required me to provide the organization focus on quality assurance activities to ensure excellent customer service to their clients and their client's customers. • Facilitated Accreditation to the International Customer Service Standard• Project Manager for entry to Customer Service Excellence Awards – Achieved High Commendation • Developed Operational Excellence Program for United Energy• High participation in Excellence on the Move - a program which focuses on Innovation, Values, Quality and Customer Focus• Quality System development for Consumption Data Management for Full Retail Contestability Requirements• Change Management Methodology development• Ensure compliance to codes and standards relevant to the Electricity and Gas industry• Coordinated Benchmarking Activities for the organisation• Database creation to capture Customer Feedback• Privacy Process review - update and ensure compliance to new Privacy Act• Facilitation for NEMMCO Meter Data Provision Accreditation• Facilitation of Office of Gas Safety AuditKey Achievements• Creation of Customer Care Databases for Retail and Distribution and Customer Claims – still utilized by UE Distribution organization • Quality System Development for Consumption Data Management for Full Retail Contestability• Management of Customer Service Excellence Award win and International Customer Service Standard Accreditation• Australian Teleservices Association Nomination for Teleservices Champion – Quality Assurance Show less

Customer Service SupervisorI was promoted to the role of Customer Service Supervisor within Varian Australia. This involved managing the export of analytical instruments and parts to locations around the world. I managed six staff members whose work I supervised on a daily basis.Quality System CoordinatorKey responsibilities• Maintenance of Quality System on the Intranet Server - I maintained the quality system which included over 100 procedures and several… Show more Customer Service SupervisorI was promoted to the role of Customer Service Supervisor within Varian Australia. This involved managing the export of analytical instruments and parts to locations around the world. I managed six staff members whose work I supervised on a daily basis.Quality System CoordinatorKey responsibilities• Maintenance of Quality System on the Intranet Server - I maintained the quality system which included over 100 procedures and several hundred work instructions that covered all aspects of the business.• Participation in Value Managed Relationships program with existing and potential suppliers - I was required to conduct quality audits of suppliers to ensure a consistent high level of product and service was provided.• Internal auditing and management of non conformances - I conduct audits as per ISO9001 and product audits as required. I was required to handle non conformances resulting from these audits to ensure appropriate action was taken.• Training and monitoring of Internal Audit Team - I trained new auditors and developed a training manual for their use. I monitored the audit team to ensure a consistent level of auditing.• Participated in Continuous Improvement groups. Examples include Redesigning New Product Development process, Cost of Goods Reduction on the Atomic Absorption line.• Performed Installation and Warranty Data downloads from the US. I liaised with employees in Australia and America to find root causes of problems with product and/or service.• Managed Quality System for four Sales and Service sites around Australia.• Developed a database using Microsoft Access to capture fault data from the factory. Show less

• Testing of Raw Materials and Finished Products• Internal Auditing• Customer Complaint Analysis• Member of the Consultative Committee• Assisting the Quality Manager with ISO 9001 certification• Work with an Ethylene Oxide Process which sterilized medical products and food products.

PQ Australia is an American owned company who manufacture Q-Cel, a hollow Glass microsphere, and a range of silicate materials. Q-Cel is used as a lightweight density filler and silicates are used in many products one of which is washing detergent. PQ is a company accredited to ISO9002.Laboratory Assistant • Testing of Raw Materials and Finished Product• Assisting the Quality Manager with ISO 9002 documentation• Application and development work• Customer sample and… Show more PQ Australia is an American owned company who manufacture Q-Cel, a hollow Glass microsphere, and a range of silicate materials. Q-Cel is used as a lightweight density filler and silicates are used in many products one of which is washing detergent. PQ is a company accredited to ISO9002.Laboratory Assistant • Testing of Raw Materials and Finished Product• Assisting the Quality Manager with ISO 9002 documentation• Application and development work• Customer sample and literature preparation Show less