IATF 16949 Cl. 7.3.1 Awareness - Supplemental - Need Employee Testing?

[Englishman Abroad]

All,

Sorry if this is already addressed elsewhere;

In 7.3.1 the standard requires;

7.3.1 Awareness - Supplemental
The organization shall maintain documented information that demonstrates that all employees are aware of their impact on product quality and the importance of their activities in achieving, maintaining, and improving quality, including customer requirements and the risks involved for the customer with non conforming product.
Does "demonstrates" mean that it is sufficient to show I have distributed information to the employees OR do I need to check/evaluate/test the employees' understanding of the information distributed? (like for other training?)
I suppose in the second case if my measurements show that the information is not understood I need to do a CAPA...
Any information regarding how this is viewed by CB auditors welcome.
Thanks
​

 

[Sebastian]

I am not CB auditor, but requirement is related to effectiveness of activities taken and not activities itself.

 

[wildbill72]

One way of documenting the awareness is through the internal audits. I usually ask the auditee how their performance effects the quality management system and how they play a role in protecting the customer. Also they are asked if they know what the company's quality measurables/metrics are. These all get recorded into the audit results. If found unfavorable, then the proper corrective actions will be verified through a documented 8D problem solving process. All employees need to know what their role is in the QMS and what the measurables are. We've been written up for this in the past by our registrar.
Hope this helps.

 

[qusys]

All,

Sorry if this is already addressed elsewhere;

In 7.3.1 the standard requires;

7.3.1 Awareness - Supplemental
The organization shall maintain documented information that demonstrates that all employees are aware of their impact on product quality and the importance of their activities in achieving, maintaining, and improving quality, including customer requirements and the risks involved for the customer with non conforming product.
Does "demonstrates" mean that it is sufficient to show I have distributed information to the employees OR do I need to check/evaluate/test the employees' understanding of the information distributed? (like for other training?)
I suppose in the second case if my measurements show that the information is not understood I need to do a CAPA...
Any information regarding how this is viewed by CB auditors welcome.
Thanks
​

Both of them.. you can do in multiple ways, for example training and certifications on operative procedures related to their area, including awareness of the applicable customer requirements.

 

[Nadaabo]

I have been going through these requirements and I'm not sure if this is the right way, I will let you know if it works next year during my certification audit
But I was going to use the normal department training to add a section about Quality.
For example: Production techs get trained on how to read the documentation, how to use the tools, etc. One of the points on their check sheets of reviewing is explaining to them how them how the documentation is the customer requirements being flowed down to us, and how the product being assembled relates to it. same with our engineering department, during their already scheduled training, we will add some awareness to how their job or this specific activity they are being trained on will effect the customer.