the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
| 01 Jul 2025
Teoloyucan Geomagnetic Observatory operation over a Quality Management System ISO 9001:2015
Abstract. Geomagnetic Observatories are essential for the study of the Earth's magnetic phenomena, they allow the precise and continuous measurement of the geomagnetic field. They are built and operated according to rigorous international standards to ensure the acquisition of high-quality geomagnetic data. Given the nature of Quality Management Systems based on ISO 9001:2015, we consider that their implementation in a Geomagnetic Observatory, can be a valuable tool that allows monitoring the follow-up of international standards and ensuring their correct operation, thus guaranteeing high quality geomagnetic data.
Some of the main advantages of implementing a Quality Management System and obtaining an ISO 9001:2015 certification include setting clear objectives, systematically analyzing risks that could affect both functionality and data quality, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, promoting of context analysis through a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis; and strategic planning based on this knowledge. In addition, involving the senior management of the institution responsible can help raise awareness of the operation characteristics and needs. It also facilitates the continuous monitoring of user’s requirements and satisfaction, as well as the correct documentation of all procedures carried out for its operation.
This study presents the registered experience in the implementation of a Quality Management System in the only Magnetic Observatory in Mexico: Teoloyucan. It details the operation of the observatory, including data acquisition platforms, transmission, reduction, management, and data publication. It also describes the Quality Management System implementation process in the data deployment procedures, highlighting its advantages, disadvantages, and challenges during its adoption.
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RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2572', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 Jul 2025
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Teoloyucan Geomagnetic Observatory operation over a Quality Management System ISO 9001:2015
Ana Caccavari-Garza, Gerardo Cifuentes-Nava, Armando Carrillo-Vargas, Adriana Elizabeth, Gonzalez-Cabrera, Charbeth López-Uría, and Juan Esteban Hernandez-Quintero🎗
🎗Deceased
Corresponding author to: Ana Caccavari-Garza (anacg@igeofisica.unam.mx)
GENERAL COMMENTS
This manuscript presents the experience of implementing an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) at the Teoloyucan Geomagnetic Observatory in Mexico.
The authors begin by emphasizing the essential role of geomagnetic observatories in providing long-term, accurate observations of the Earth's magnetic field. In the introduction, they highlight the global INTERMAGNET network working under the auspices of IAGA, which sets high standards for magnetic data quality. These standards are critical because observatory data are used in both scientific research and practical applications.
The authors argue that implementing a QMS is a valuable complement—not a replacement—for INTERMAGNET standards. While INTERMAGNET ensures high-quality data through technical specifications and final product control, ISO 9001 provides a structured system for managing the entire data production process. This includes monitoring compliance, ensuring efficient operations, and maintaining high-quality outputs.
The manuscript outlines various benefits of adopting a QMS, such as setting clear objectives, performing systematic risk analysis, promoting continuous improvement, conducting SWOT analysis, and developing strategic plans.
The methodology section describes in detail how the observatory adapted its operations to meet ISO 9001:2015 requirements. This includes defining the scope and quality goals (e.g., at least 90% data completeness), ensuring top management involvement, managing staff knowledge, controlling and maintaining instruments, implementing corrective and preventive actions, monitoring user requirements, and conducting audits. The authors also mention challenges, such as the extensive documentation needed and the cost of certification.
The results section presents the observatory’s “technical procedure,” which documents the full workflow—from data acquisition to publication on the website. The implementation of the QMS is reported to have improved the observatory’s organization and helped maintain high data quality. ISO 9001:2015 certification was obtained in November 2023.
The reviewer believes that introducing a QMS like ISO 9001:2015 does not compete with INTERMAGNET standards—it complements them. INTERMAGNET focuses on what should be achieved in terms of data quality, while ISO 9001 helps the observatory define and maintain how those goals are achieved in a systematic and efficient way. From this perspective, the manuscript is valuable and presents important insights that should be shared with the international community working on long-term geomagnetic observations.
However, some aspects of the manuscript need improvement. The discussion of benefits is often too general and theoretical. Although many advantages of the QMS are listed (e.g., clear goals, risk analysis, continuous improvement), the paper lacks concrete, measurable examples that show how these benefits translated into better data quality, more efficient operations, or problem-solving at Teoloyucan. It would be necessary to include specific evidence - such as improvements in baselines determination.
Additionally, the structure of the manuscript is somewhat inconsistent. Several figures (1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 13) are not referenced in the text, and some citations are unclear or incomplete. These issues have to be addressed to improve the clarity and coherence of the article.
Finally, the manuscript requires thorough language editing. The sentence structure needs simplification, and there are recurring issues with grammar and punctuation. A review by a native English-speaking editor is strongly recommended before publication.
Conclusion
This manuscript shares the experience of implementing the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System at the Teoloyucan Geomagnetic Observatory. This study can be highly relevant to the geomagnetic and broader geophysical community. However, in its current form, it falls short in terms of clarity, precision, and evidentiary support.
Recommendation: Accept with major revisions, focused on:
- Adding specific, measurable outcomes to support the claimed benefits,
- Correcting structural inconsistencies (especially regarding figures and references),
- Improving the overall clarity and language quality of the text.
With these improvements, the article will provide a strong and practical contribution to the literature on quality management in geomagnetic observatories.
SPECIFIC COMMENTS
Line 41 Reference to the wrong figure, because Figure 3 is
about “Structure of a Quality Management ..."
Line 53 What does the abbreviation DFI mean? It is not explained anywhere.
Line 64 The abbreviation DI is introduced but not used later.
Line 65 This is the first time the abbreviation QMS is used. It's better to write the full name here
with "QMS" in parentheses, even though the full name appears in the title of the article.
Lines 79,84 This item is missing from the References.
Line 221 There should probably be a reference to Fig. 7 here.
Line 225 There is an unnecessary comma after the word "hut." The whole sentence is complicated and hard to read.
Line 314 It’s worth making the whole References section consistent with the chosen style, as much as possible.
Line 315 Punctuation. It's worth to add the DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/labmed/27.6.375
Line 331 This item is listed in the References but is not cited anywhere in the article.
Line 338 Should be probably: Rasson, J.L., Toh, H., Yang, D. (2011). The Global Geomagnetic
Observatory Network. In: Mandea, M., Korte, M. (eds) Geomagnetic Observations and Models. IAGA Special Sopron Book Series,
Vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9858-0_1
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS
Lines 30,65,85 The author "Brake" is missing in the References. It is probably meant to be "Bracke."
Line 35 There is a missing dot after "al"
Line 81 It should be “Figure 3” (the dot is not needed)
Line 283 There is a missing comma after the word "however"
Line 339 There is missing “d” in “edited”
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2572-RC1
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