How many sentences does your Quality Policy statement contain?

[theduke]

We have four (4). We've tried to keep it succinct.

 

[dwaynec]

One long run-on sentence.

 

[20110108 Request]

The best Quality Policy I have seen:

"It doesn't look like the print; but, we think you'll like it anyway."

 

[rashid143 - 2008]

Our company Quality Policy
send your comments on this policy

Rashid

 

[Stijloor]

Our company Quality Policy
send your comments on this policy.
Rashid

Hello Rashid,

You actually attached 3 documents, and I saw that the policy statements themselves are identical. Am I correct?

Let's start by looking at what ISO 9001:2000, Clause 5.3 says:

5.3 Quality policy
Top management shall ensure that the quality policy
a) is appropriate to the purpose of the organization,
b) includes a commitment to comply with requirements and continually improve the effectiveness of the quality management system,
c) provides a framework for establishing and reviewing quality objectives,
d) is communicated and understood within the organization, and
e) is reviewed for continuing suitability.

The line that got my attention is 5.3 b).

Your quality policy does not include a reference to "a commitment to complying to requirements." It does not have to be exactly worded as in the Standard, but I don't see it. Also, continual improvement is missing.

Your policy reads more like a mission statement. A statement that says how we get from here to there. "There" being the vision of the organization.

Please look at some great Quality Policy examples here at The Cove Forums. Don't copy verbatim, make it your own, and should represent your company well.

Look at this post: Quality Policy + attachment from our Fellow Cover Howste.
Note how the policy lends itself to the development of measurable objectives.

Stijloor.

 

[langtao]

For TS16949, our policy have 6 sentences.
for ISO14001/OHSAS18001, our policy have a paragraph about 10 sentences.

 

[JaneB]

Our company Quality Policy
send your comments on this policy

Rashid

Rashid,

I rather liked it - it's clear and short, and says it in a sentence. I actually don't have a problem with it reading like a mission statement if that's what your company wants.

Of course, you would need to also have the other bits:

1. That required commitment. You can do that by adding on a sentence like this: "In doing this, XYZ Ltd is committed to a management system that meets the requirements of ISO 9001 and to continuous improvement"

2. Objectives that support/work toward the aim of the policy (ie, excellence, the very best, etc).

They don't necessarily all have to be in the same document.

 

[eternal_atlas]

standard doesnot mention about the no. of lines. its requirement is it should be stated and provides a framework for quality objectives. thats it.

Suresh Kumar
RTW Consultant

 

[michellemmm]

standard doesnot mention about the no. of lines. its requirement is it should be stated and provides a framework for quality objectives. thats it.

Suresh Kumar
RTW Consultant

So, the question is how many sentences does it take to explicitly cover the compliancy requirements?

 

[joshua_sx1]

...well, if you can include the following requirements into one paragraph, then 1 paragraph would be enough:
- appropriate to the organization’s purpose,
- includes commitment to comply with the requirements & continually improve the effectiveness of your QMS,
- it provides a framework for establishing & reviewing quality objectives,
- it is communicated & understood within the organization, and
- it is being reviewed for continuing suitability.