Review of the Quality Policy for effectiveness?

[Gman2]

We got hit on this at our last audit and have to solve this isue by November.
How do you interperate this?
It sounds simple but would they really ask us to change the policy if it's not fitting? And how would they determine that?
I know WE should determine that but, like most policy's our is more like a misson statement. And it's pretty broad based and notes attention to customer requirments and providing a quality product. It's actually pretty good.
So what do we do in the meeting that they are looking for?
Just state in the minuets every quarter "the QP was reviewed and YEP, customers are STILL our focus and so is producing a quality product"?
Seems kind of silly every meeting. I undestand if you do find that your QP is lacking and you decide to change it, but how often is that going to happen?
I mean, how many company's are going to re-order new signs and stationary and banners every quarter??

G.

 

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Hi G,

Well.. Nobody can force you to update your policy every so often. You do have to review it to ascertain continued suitability, though (ISO9001:2000, 5.3e). How often? As often as it takes.

I suppose one sentence in the MR minutes would do the trick: "Policy reviewed and found to be up to date" or something to that effect. Providing it really is of course...

/Claes

 

[Randy]

We got hit on this at our last audit and have to solve this isue by November.
How do you interperate this?
It sounds simple but would they really ask us to change the policy if it's not fitting? And how would they determine that?
I know WE should determine that but, like most policy's our is more like a misson statement. And it's pretty broad based and notes attention to customer requirments and providing a quality product. It's actually pretty good.
So what do we do in the meeting that they are looking for?
Just state in the minuets every quarter "the QP was reviewed and YEP, customers are STILL our focus and so is producing a quality product"?
Seems kind of silly every meeting. I undestand if you do find that your QP is lacking and you decide to change it, but how often is that going to happen?
I mean, how many company's are going to re-order new signs and stationary and banners every quarter??

G.

1st....everything you state in your policy is auditable, so therefore you need to be able to show that you are in fact abiding by it.

2nd.....your policy is you policy and your mission statement is your mission statement, hopefully you don't have one of those things that is 2 pages long and reads like Beowolf. Your policy should be short, specific and easily understood.

3rd...the policy belongs to top management, make it part of the management review

 

[SteelWoman]

gman, I agree it seems silly, but I do insert a statement in our minutes that we reviewed it and did/did not find anything that needed changing or updating. That said, we are in a weird situation right now - all our divisions are in process of transitioning to TS, and someone at corporate level decided ALL our quality policy statements should be the SAME - so we have one now that addresses all the "shalls" and such in the standard, and is just vague enough to pass muster for an audit, but isn't really tailored to our operation. Problem is, our MRT can review it all day long and find things wrong with it all day long and it doesn't matter - corp said we use it, so we use it.

aaarrghh.

 

[Paula R]

Gman

I review my system for effectiveness monthly in our quality meeting. We review Nonconformances, Corrective Actions, and Supplier Corrective Actions to close them for the month.. then the next meeting we review them again for effectiveness to see if the issue has happened again. If we feel it has not been enough time or the product line has not ran we leave it open.

Overview of quarterly activities with different areas are another way of looking at things for effectiveness.

Paula

 

[howste]

My usual approach is to have a yes/no check box on a management review agenda form. If it's OK, check the "no changes necessary" box. If it needs changing, check the yes box and describe what needs to be done.

BTW, the standard doesn't require a review of the policy for effectiveness, it requires review for continuing suitability...