Establishing the quality policy for ISO 9001:2015

[Ren33]

At what stage should this be done?

This is all new to our organisation and I need to go to management with a plan of what is required of them.

If my reading and research have guided me correctly a management review (SWOT - to identify risks and opportunities) is the first step, followed by a PDCA with the management group and the relevant department heads?

At what stage do we/they need to establish the quality policy?

 

[Golfman25]

Take a look at 5.2. It pretty much lays out what needs to be done. Many companies keep it short and sweet and regurgitate the standard language. It can be done during your normal planning activities.

 

[dsanabria]

At what stage should this be done?

This is all new to our organisation and I need to go to management with a plan of what is required of them.

If my reading and research have guided me correctly a management review (SWOT - to identify risks and opportunities) is the first step, followed by a PDCA with the management group and the relevant department heads?

At what stage do we/they need to establish the quality policy?

I missed something...

What is your concern

and what areas do you need help..

You stated what you did - are you asking for feedback because the title of this post makes reference to the quality policy...

 

[Ren33]

I haven't dome anything yet, aside from a LOT of reading and collating the information and process I think I need to follow.

I was asking at what stage should the Quality Policy be established? Ie first or after the SWOT and or PDCA?

 

[AMIT BALLAL]

First define Purpose & Strategic direction of your organization (which can be vision and mission).

Then define internal and external issues in line with this strategic direction.

Then define which interested parties are relevant to your QMS and identify their needs & expectations.

Then define Quality Policy based on above information .

 

[tony s]

Allow me to enumerate some thoughts:

According to clause 5.2.1, the quality policy must be appropriate to the purpose of the organization. If Mission is defined as the "organization's purpose for existing", then, IMHO, the quality policy should be consistent with the mission statement.

Vision is defined as the "aspiration of what an organization would like to become". Typically, an organization will need to establish their Strategic Directions to achieve the organization's vision.

SWOT analysis can usually help an organization to establish the strategic directions. Organizations can develop strategies from the combination of the internal issues (strengths and weaknesses) against the external issues (opportunities and threats). SWOT analysis helps the organization in understanding its context.

The quality policy is defined as the "intentions and directions of an organization related to quality". Quality is about fulfilling requirements. Requirement is defined as "needs and expectations". As per clause 4.2, organizations are required to understand the needs and expectations of interested parties.

Consequently, the quality policy should be established once the above statements are clear to the organization.

 

[AndyN]

I believe it's really very simple: As part of understanding your interested parties needs and expectations, the Quality Policy needs to be written in support of that.

Countless times, companies have simply grabbed a Quality Policy out of the air (or internet) and it commits to things such as "defect free" and "exceeding customer expectations" (or similar). For a "build to print" business, there's a good chance that the customer simply wants the product to meet the provided spec/drawing. The quality management system can then be constructed and implemented to support that. After all, just how many organization actually CAN exceed customer expectations? In my experience? Very few.

I don't believe it has anything to do with vision and mission statements, just a simple case of alignment of the stated policy with doing what the customer wants...

 

[dsanabria]

I haven't dome anything yet, aside from a LOT of reading and collating the information and process I think I need to follow.

I was asking at what stage should the Quality Policy be established? Ie first or after the SWOT and or PDCA?

to your last question - what difference does it make in establishing your policy? not sure how SWOT or PDCA will help?

OK here are the requirements so let us know whit part you need help with

5.2.1 Establishing the quality policy

Top management shall establish, implement and maintain a quality policy that:

a) is appropriate to the purpose and context of the organization and supports its strategic direction;

b) provides a framework for setting quality objectives;

c) includes a commitment to satisfy applicable requirements;

d) includes a commitment to continual improvement of the quality management system.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

I was asking at what stage should the Quality Policy be established?

For those of us familiar with the ISO 10001/2/3/4 series of standards on management of customer satisfaction, know that a quality policy serves, at least, two purposes:

1. externally, it becomes a "promise" towards customers that the organization is concerned and serious about their satisfaction
2. internally, it should drive the message to the workforce that customer satisfaction is a business priority and needs to be taken seriously by everyone, including leadership management

So, it should be released early on, during the organization's maturity journey so this critical and strategic aspect of the business is taken seriously.
Unfortunately, way too often, quality policies are meaningless words and sentences blowing in the wind, and are utterly forgotten and disregarded by a workforce that sees daily the organization's management not walking the "talkin"...

 

[tony s]

I don't believe it has anything to do with vision and mission statements, just a simple case of alignment of the stated policy with doing what the customer wants...

Somehow I agree, since most companies were certified even without mission or vision statements.

Anyway, ISO 9000:2015 has the following statements in defining the quality policy:

"Note 1 to entry: Generally the quality policy is consistent with the overall policy of the organization (3.2.1), can be aligned with the organization’s vision (3.5.10) and mission (3.5.11) and provides a framework for the setting of quality objectives (3.7.2)."