If Quality Objectives are not known to employees, is it a Nonconformance?

[dubrizo]

Hi Covers,

Here is my dilemma:

ISO9001:2008, section 6.2.2.d states "The organization shall ensure that its personnel are aware of the relevance and importance of thier activities and how they contribute to the achievement of the quality objectives".


Scenario:
I ask personnel to tell me how they contribute to the quality objectives, 98/100 employees don't even know there are quality objectives.......

Question:
Since the organization ensures that all employees go through a "QA" introduction as a part of their onboarding process, and quality objectives are covered, is this sufficisive to meet 6.2.2?

 

[Helmut Jilling]

Re: NC or Observation, you decide

It is required that quality objectives be defined, and communicated to the relevant levels....if 98% of them don't even know there are quality objectives, I would say you have a finding against Objectives or training....not effective.....

 

[dubrizo]

Re: NC or Observation, you decide

It is required that quality objectives be defined, and communicated to the relevant levels...

Where are you seeing any reference to "communicated to the relevant levels"? As I read the standard, it is saying that all employees are to be aware of the affect they have on the success/failure of the organizations quality objectives

 

[Helmut Jilling]

Re: NC or Observation, you decide

Your quote is referring to training cl 6.2.2. I was referring to cl 5.4, Quality Objectives... Although I am going from memory as I am sitting in a bar and grill having a bite and a brew....

 

[Kronos147]

Re: If Quality Objectives are not known to employees, is it a NC ?

ISO9001:2008, section 6.2.2.d states "The organization shall ensure that its personnel are aware of the relevance and importance of their activities and how they contribute to the achievement of the quality objectives".

Read Clause 5.3

IMO, the quality policy is a really brief way of saying "we work towards goals". IMO, the quality department champions the quality policy and engages employees, asking what the policy is and what it means to them.

Quality Objectives are established "at relevant functions and levels."

The organization doesn't need a receiving clerk to be knowledgeable about OTD stats, it needs them to understand receiving.

 

[Helmut Jilling]

Re: If Quality Objectives are not known to employees, is it a NC ?

Your post confuses me...the discussion is not about the quality policy, it is about whether they knew the quality objectives, which should be known at the RELEVANT levels. A receiving clerk should not be expected to know the Maintenance objectives...but I would give him props if he did!

 

[Golfman25]

Re: If Quality Objectives are not known to employees, is it a NC ?

Don't ask them about "quality objectives." That is not a term they will be familiar with. Try to use more "normal" language that they know.

 

[Big Jim]

Re: If Quality Objectives are not known to employees, is it a NC ?

Hi Covers,

Here is my dilemma:

ISO9001:2008, section 6.2.2.d states "The organization shall ensure that its personnel are aware of the relevance and importance of thier activities and how they contribute to the achievement of the quality objectives".


Scenario:
I ask personnel to tell me how they contribute to the quality objectives, 98/100 employees don't even know there are quality objectives.......

Question:
Since the organization ensures that all employees go through a "QA" introduction as a part of their onboarding process, and quality objectives are covered, is this sufficisive to meet 6.2.2?

How are they going to know how they contribute to the achievement of the objectives if they don't know what they are? On the face of what is here, it is a pretty clear nonconformance and a massive breakdown in communication.

An advantage of making the employees aware of the objectives that they contribute to (and it is likely most of them) as well as posting the results is that they tend to help you achieve them. If you keep them secret, intentionally or not, you are missing out on a great resource.