Quality objectives

[Sam.F]

Hi, I have a question about quality objectives.

Can quality objectives be any goals that can be measured?

For example, my objectives are to complete calibration, maintenance, internal audits, and employee training on time. We use QMS software to track all due dates, and nothing is completed late.

For calibration, my objective is 100% on-time calibration with no overdue items, and this is measured and monitored in the QMS software.

Is this acceptable as a quality objective under ISO 9001?

 

[Bev D]

Sure why not? They check the box.

In general “quality objectives” are intended to be more high level so these are pretty low level and time based and will in all likelihood have very little direct effect on defects or Customer Satisfaction. They are more along the lines of performance targets for an individual or individual function’s everyday tasks.

I go beyond mere compliance and set high level improvement goals as my quality objectives that align the entire company in a single direction. Such as reduce field failures by 80% in the next five years.

But to each their own. It’s a free country so you do you…I’m sure others will have tons to say about this perennially favorite topic.

 

[Randy]

Pretty much, but if I show up and see that your "Quality Objective" is to keep the pencils sharp or the trash cans empty you might have a problem.

 

[Tidge]

....the Senior VP of the ACME Pencil Sharpener and Wastebucket Molding company is madly scribbling notes...

 

[Randy]

....the Senior VP of the ACME Pencil Sharpener and Wastebucket Molding company is madly scribbling notes...

Probably.

I left out keeping the coffee warm, personnel agitated and commodes clean, all very important quality issues like many of the objectives I encounter frequently.

 

[Project Man]

It could be a good temporary (3 years) quality objective if there have been major issues in this area in the recent past and you are looking to verify the effectiveness of your calibration system. Otherwise, there are usually better things to track as a quality objective (LAR, NC, etc.)

 

[qcman]

Has anyone considered putting quality objectives in the quality policy such as Continues improvement, meet or exceed customer requirements and so on? Obviously they would need to be measurable.

 

[Randy]

Has anyone considered putting quality objectives in the quality policy such as Continues improvement, meet or exceed customer requirements and so on? Obviously they would need to be measurable.

Only about 5,762 policies I've audited.

 

[Bev D]

Well isn’t that more like mission statments? I guess it checks the box, but it seems like a minimal compliance thing.

 

[Randy]

I guess it checks the box, but it seems like a minimal compliance thing.

Yep, and you should hear the "fannies" start flapping when I come out with "Show me" and "Uh huh, and your evidence of making those promises is.....?"