ISO/DIS 9001 - LEADERSHIP - Quality Policy, Organizational roles, reponsibilities and authorities

Continued from the last post ....

ISO/DIS 9001 - LEADERSHIP - Quality Policy, Organizational roles, reponsibilities and authorities

Keshav Ram Singhal

Quality policy

Quality policy can be termed as 'intentions and direction of the organization related to quality', as formally expressed by the top management of the organization. As per ISO/DIS 9001 requirements, top management of the organization is required to establish (that is required to set up, install or create), review (determine the suitability, adequacy or effectiveness) and maintain a quality policy for the organization. Such quality policy must be appropriate to the purpose (goals and objectives) and context of the organization. The quality policy of the organization must provide a framework for setting and reviewing objectives related to quality. The quality policy must include a commitment to: (a) satisfy applicable requirements, and (ii) continual improvement of the quality management system.

The quality policy of the organization must be available as documented information (in any format and in any media).It must be communicated and understood within the organization. The employees working in the organization must be aware of the quality policy. The quality policy must be applied within the organization. It should also be available to relevant interested parties, as appropriate.

Organizational roles, responsibilities and authorities

Requirements with regard to organizational roles, responsibilities and authorities are mentioned in clause 5.3 of ISO/DIS 9001. As per requirements of ISO/DIS 9001, it is the responsibility of the top management to ensure (i) assigning and communicating responsibilities and authorities for relevant roles, and (ii) that such assigned duties are understood within the organization.

Accordingly, top management of the organization needs to ensure that everyone in the organization know and understand their responsibilities (what they are expected to do) and their authorities (what they are allowed to do). ISO/DIS does not stipulate the method to be used for communicating responsibilities and authorities, however, there can be several ways, such as organizational structure diagram, function description, job description, flow chart, description in procedures etc.

As per requirements of ISO/DIS 9001, top management of the organization must assign responsibility and authority for the following:
- ensuring: (i) that the quality management system of the organization conforms to ISO/DIS 9001 requirements, (ii) that the processes in the organization deliver their intended outputs, (iii) promotion of customer focus culture throughout the organization, and (iv) maintaining the quality management system integrity at the time of planning and implementing changes to the quality management system.
- reporting quality management system performance, improvement opportunities and need for change or innovation.

ISO 9001:2008 standard specifically mentions requirements for management representative. ISO/DIS 9001 does not now define the term 'management representative', however all the requirements for the role of management representative from ISO 9001:2008 are included in the responsibilities of the top management with some minor changes.