Ken,
Just my opinion, but I think the standard will allow someone from ANY "department" to authorize release of product (basically, give final approval for shipment) IF that person is deemed capable/competent and he/she has been formally authorized as specified in your procedures.
At our company, I say a "QA Department Representative" must authorize release of product. Some of these folks are actually "QA Department" employees but most are considered primarily "Manufacturing Department" or "Engineering Department" people whom I have trained and I trust to do the right things and make the right decisions -- i.e. they "represent" the QA Department in these decisions. When it comes to quality issues, I am their boss as far as what rules/procedures they must follow even though I am not their direct Manager, and I am ultimately responsible for their decisions. Our customers are okay with this. Does this make sense?