Who's the Management?

Hello everybody

I'm new to the forum, so bare with me.

I've been appointed Quality Assurance Manager at a newly born company. The Board of Directors had already defined the organization chart, which is like this: the CEO reports to the Board of Directors; The QA manager and the Production manager are at the same level in the organization and both report to the CEO; the QC manager reports to me, the QA manager.
I'm going to implement an ISO900x based Quality System and I've been faced with my first problem: who's the management (the one who is supposed to do all that's described under "Management Responsibility")? I think it's the Board of Directors, but I'd like to hear your views on this.
I can see a second problem: I'll prepare the Quality Manual procedures and, surely, also the operating procedures, but who should verify and approve them? I think the CEO should verify and someone form the Board should approve them. I'm right?
Thanks for your help
Paulo

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Paulo L. R.

The executive management would be the highest level management directly involved at the location going through registration. If the CEO is on-site, then he would be at the top of the organization chart, because the board of directors he reports to probably do not have day to day involvement in the activities at the location. If you want to show the Board of Directors on your organization chart and have them sign off on the quality manual, that's up to you, but it should be clear who the management responsible for the day-to-day organization is via documented interrelationships, responsibilities and authorities). A newer approach (ISO 9000:2000 influenced) for the top level quality manual would be an outline type of document (10 pages or so) for spelling out the quality philosophy/policy of the business with references to level II procedures. Regarding the procedures, although your approach is common, it will become your burden forevermore. Why not establish the format of your procedures and utilize teams of personnel familiar with the function to help write procedures for themselves and their departments? Just food for thought, do what works best for you!

-Bill

[Marc]

Originally posted by Bill M:
The executive management would be the highest level management directly involved at the location going through registration. If the CEO is on-site, then he would be at the top of the organization chart...."
-Bill

Yup - key word is On-Site

[barb butrym]

I am clouded with the flu, but thought I read the question to mean who is the management rep that does all the stuff? The ultimate responsibility is as answered above, the guy that does most of the work is the rep (who ever is appointed,,,you?) As to the review/authorize and signing of docs and procs...be careful not to dig your self into a hole....less is better. Try to keep away from group reviews unless absolutely appropriate. It will take for ever to get through the loop, and they end up doing proof reading instead of content....and gets into a pi**ing contest.