Personnel Unaware of the Quality Policy

[BradM]

(they don't know what it is and have no idea where to located it) as an OFI, should this be a non-conformity?

I assume you are performing internal audits. I would start as an observation. If the observation is not addressed by your next internal audit, I would elevate it to a minor. If you as an internal auditor does not catch this, an external auditor will.

Apart from requirement, I would think everyone needs to at least know what the quality system is about. A customer happen to ask an employee about the quality policy and they say "I don't know; who cares; not my problem " etc. is not the best advertisement. If enough effort went into the quality policy, everyone in the company should be proud of it.
****
Sorry my post is so similar to Sidney's. She beat me to the post by one minute

 

[Sidney Vianna]

Sorry my post is so similar to Sidney's. She beat me to the post by one minute

Who is SHE? http://elsmar.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=157057&postcount=7

 

[Wes Bucey]

Who is SHE? http://elsmar.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=157057&postcount=7

Just goes to show you how much we identify your "assertive" style with the heroine of the defunct TV series Alias - you should be flattered, not angry!

 

[BradM]

Sidney,

So sorry.

I could say that I should have been able to ascertain your gender by the high IQ reflected of your posts. But then....

First Rule of Holes-When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

If you make it to Texas, we'll go drink some Shiner Bock.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

I could say that I should have been able to ascertain your gender by the high IQ reflected of your posts. But then....

energy, is that you? http://elsmar.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=52148&postcount=32

If you make it to Texas, we'll go drink some Shiner Bock.

You bet. But Texas is a mighty big state. I go to Houston quite a bit. A couple of weeks ago I was in Canyon Lake.

 

[Wes Bucey]

Regarding the thread topic (employees knowing the Quality Policy):
this is probably a case of an organization that creates a "highfaluting" Quality policy that serves "God, country, mom, apple pie, ecology, humanity, space aliens, etc." in turgid prose many of us would have difficulty reading out loud with a straight face and then sending the policy out to customers and auditors, but locking it and the Quality Manual up in the Quality Manager's office, never to see the light of day until the next desk audit by an outside auditor. If they do print it on a card for employees, the employees repeat it like a religious mantra in a long dead language with absolutely no real understanding of what it means. In point of fact, the guys who wrote it have no idea of what it means either, because it has no relationship to what the organization actually does.


Here is Motorola's. It says everything and nothing

Dedication to quality is a way of life at our company, so much so that it goes far beyond rhetorical slogans. Our ongoing program of continued improvement reaches out for change, refinement and even revolution in our pursuit of quality excellence.

It is the objective of Motorola, Inc. to produce and provide products and services of the highest quality. In its activities, Motorola will pursue goals aimed at the achievement of quality excellence. These results will be derived from the dedicated efforts of each employee in conjunction with supportive participation from management at all levels of the corporation.
(c)Motorola, Inc.

Anyone really expect the average assembly worker to repeat that verbatim or to create his/her own paraphrase?

 

[harry]

Sidney, I think you need to consider adding the following behind your name:-
Sidney Vianna (Mr.)

This must the tenth time I come across this mistaken identity issue. Oh, another one - Sydney!

Regards.

 

[potdar]

Oh, this thread remind me of my good old days. This was back in 1993, when we became one of the first 50 to be certified for ISO 9000 series in India.

The preparation for the certification audit was on. Everybody was **** scared of facing the D-day. The quality policy (Motorola type) was printed on small pocket size cards in three languages - English, Hindi and the local language. It was told to everybody that the first question that the auditor will ask on entering your work area will be "Tell me the quality policy". At the start of every shift, all workmen, janitors, securitymen, .. used to stand by their equipment and recite the policy word by word like taking an oath. This rigamarole took place in front of the auditors also. they were possibly so **** impressed that they never asked the question. God knows, possibly they never intended to ask.

Today, after two revisins of the standard, and after having completed over 300 certifications as a Lead auditor, I look back on that experience and cant help but to have a big hearty laugh.

Today I am neither an auditee nor an auditor (thank God!). As a consultant I sit down and finalise with my client his business plan first. This is an internal document of the management. Not pert of the QMS. Not auditable. This defines where the company is today and here it wants to be say 5 or 10 years from today. The quality policy comes next. This directs the efforts of the QMS towards achieving the business plan. And then come the quality objectives. These measure the progress of the company in meeting the quality policy directives (the business plan requirements). Now, the top management is interested in all employees being properly communicated about the quality policy. The policy is meaningful.

If you dont find the policy awareness amongst the employees (what it means to them), its time to review the policy. Tell that to the management. In whatever terms. If your message reaches, you have done your job as the internal auditor.

 

[Channey]

I think the worker onsite need not repeat the policy word by work, but management shall repeat it exactly.

 

[Coury Ferguson]

I think the worker onsite need not repeat the policy word by work, but management shall repeat it exactly.

I don't agree with that assertion. I feel that everyone should know where the policy can be found, not know it by heart.