Determining Quality Objectives for the Finance Department

[Divij Chandwani]

Hi Guys,

First of all, I believe this is a great place which Elsmar have initiated to put forward your questions and a huge database of knowledge and information is available all through the website.

Coming to my question, I am looking for some sample quality objectives which could be set up for the Finance & Accounts, as well as the IT department in my organization.The previous findings of the surveillance audit mentioned that the quality objectives were not defined for the Finance and the IT department. Hence, I request your help in providing me some sample objectives, which I could modify and adjust as per the tasks handled by each of the teams here.

Please send me the link of any thread which has already discussed this topic. As I am a new user here, Im not well aware which all topics have already been mentioned.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[RoxaneB]

Welcome to the Cove, Divij Chandwani!

First of all, I believe this is a great place which Elsmar have initiated to put forward your questions and a huge database of knowledge and information is available all through the website.

oooOOOooo...good start! Flattering fellow Cove members!

Coming to my question, I am looking for some sample quality objectives which could be set up for the Finance & Accounts, as well as the IT department in my organization.The previous findings of the surveillance audit mentioned that the quality objectives were not defined for the Finance and the IT department. Hence, I request your help in providing me some sample objectives, which I could modify and adjust as per the tasks handled by each of the teams here.

I've never seen audit results that specifically called out for objectives to be set-up for Finance, Accounting and/or IT. However, without knowing your industry, this could potentially be a valid finding.

The only thing I can suggest is for your organization to consider how these processes impact the ability to meet Customer requirements. Billing perhaps? Security of client information? Does your organization have key performance indicators tied into these areas? If yes, that may help you come up with some objectives.

 

[Divij Chandwani]

The only thing I can suggest is for your organization to consider how these processes impact the ability to meet Customer requirements. Billing perhaps? Security of client information? Does your organization have key performance indicators tied into these areas? If yes, that may help you come up with some objectives.

Thanks Beyette for the quick response. Even I had not heard of objectives in this area, but the last audit that took place in my organization had one of the findings listed as: Quality Objectives not set up for these departments.

There are no KPIs tied to this area. One of their key responsibilities is to obtain purchase invoices from either the clients or employees and reimburse it accordingly. For this, what I had thought was timely payment with a suitable quantitative measure along with it. But the team informed that they have other offices across the globe as well whom help them in such tasks. So, how do we generalize the objective in such a situation.

 

[Jim Wynne]

Thanks Beyette for the quick response. Even I had not heard of objectives in this area, but the last audit that took place in my organization had one of the findings listed as: Quality Objectives not set up for these departments.

There are no KPIs tied to this area. One of their key responsibilities is to obtain purchase invoices from either the clients or employees and reimburse it accordingly. For this, what I had thought was timely payment with a suitable quantitative measure along with it. But the team informed that they have other offices across the globe as well whom help them in such tasks. So, how do we generalize the objective in such a situation.

Objectives should be tied to processes, not departments. If you have defined something going on in the finance department as one of the processes of the QMS, you should also have determined the "... criteria and methods needed to ensure that both the operation and control of these processes are effective..." (ISO 9001:2008, 4.1c).

If activities of the finance department are part of a larger process that crosses department boundaries, you don't necessarily need "criteria and methods" for each part of the process. If you haven't included activities of the finance department within the scope of the QMS in any fashion, the auditor is wrong.

 

[Randy]

There's no requirement for them to have objectives so why burden yourself and them with something un-necessary?

 

[somashekar]

I have split your objectives into two specific as below:

Finance & Accounts department in my organization.

What process they are into that effects the QMS performance ?
Ex: Supplier payments ?
Any other ?

, as well as the IT department in my organization.

What process they are into that effects the QMS performance ?
Ex: Backup and data loss prevention ?
Provide uninterrupted connectivity ?
Any other ?

Once we get their core process that interacts with the QMS, we can discuss what objective when set and met will meet the QMS quality policy.

 

[GoKats78]

There's no requirement for them to have objectives so why burden yourself and them with something un-necessary?

Where's the "Like" button!

We, so often, put burdens on ourselves through our QMS that is not required...either because someone it our organization thinks it is a good idea, or an auditor has an odd interpretation of the standard (and we dare not question an auditor...).

 

[Randy]

Just hit the THANKS icon on the lower right

And, THANKS for the THANKS

There are too many people that absolutely fail to read all the words of most standards, in this case the words in clause "5.4.1 Quality objectives...are established at relevant functions and levels..."

 

[Jim Wynne]

Just hit the THANKS icon on the lower right

And, THANKS for the THANKS

There are too many people that absolutely fail to read all the words of most standards, in this case the words in clause "5.4.1 Quality objectives...are established at relevant functions and levels..."

Who decides what's relevant?

 

[somashekar]

Who decides what's relevant?

The simple question by the OP here is for some help and tips for establishing quality objectives at places where he feels it is relevant. Let us not question the OP's question, but provide help or ask for more details from the OP to lead him to better answers...