Should we get Quality Policy re-signed if the signatories leave?

SGquality

Quite Involved in Discussions
Our Quality Policy is signed by the CEO and the VP-Quality Assurance. We now have a situation where the VP-Quality Assurance has resigned and a new VP is in place.

Should we have our Quality Policy re-signed by CEO and the new VP or we could stick with the Policy and train the new VP to the Quality Policy ?
 

AndyN

Moved On
Re: Should we get Quality Policy re-signed if the signatories leave ?

I'm not sure signing it is that important. If you have had them sign it, then it doesn't make much sense to have signatures of people who aren't there. Why not ensure the policy is still relevant (like, are you actually "exceeding customers expectations"?) at your next management review, then re-issue it, without signatures, recording in your management review that the top management confirmed it's an appropriate policy. Job done and you'll never have to worry about signatures again!
 

somashekar

Leader
Admin
Re: Should we get Quality Policy re-signed if the signatories leave ?

If your quality policy is reviewed and agreed to be relevant and the management decides to keep it as is, then recording this in your management review is all that you need. Your new VP is a part of your top management.
 
V

Vthouta

Re: Should we get Quality Policy re-signed if the signatories leave ?

This questions looks pretty simple but in reality to deal with it is really complex when a newbie joins the organization at the top management. I have gone through this situation recently.

The answer completely lies around the frequency of management review. If the management review is due within couple of months, definitely the newbie will review and sign the quality manual, but it is around 1 year you can still ask him to review the quality manual and check for its effectiveness, as a new set of eyes will definitely help the team and gives him chance to understand the doc-control system.

I do understand the intention of this question as you want the newbie to be completely aware of the quality manual and policies established by your organization.
 

AndyN

Moved On
Re: Should we get Quality Policy re-signed if the signatories leave ?

This questions looks pretty simple but in reality to deal with it is really complex when a newbie joins the organization at the top management. I have gone through this situation recently.

The answer completely lies around the frequency of management review. If the management review is due within couple of months, definitely the newbie will review and sign the quality manual, but it is around 1 year you can still ask him to review the quality manual and check for its effectiveness, as a new set of eyes will definitely help the team and gives him chance to understand the doc-control system.

I do understand the intention of this question as you want the newbie to be completely aware of the quality manual and policies established by your organization.

If the management review is close to a year away, someone needs to change that! Isn't part of the process to consider "changes which affect the management system". Not much point being 11 months too late! The idea of management review being once a year is a bizarre one. IF you understand the term "planned intervals" it doesn't necessarily mean keeping to a calendar and not, for example, calling for another review before that!
 

John Broomfield

Leader
Super Moderator
Our Quality Policy is signed by the CEO and the VP-Quality Assurance. We now have a situation where the VP-Quality Assurance has resigned and a new VP is in place.

Should we have our Quality Policy re-signed by CEO and the new VP or we could stick with the Policy and train the new VP to the Quality Policy ?

SGquality,

Now may be a good time to devise a way to show users that your management system docs are approved for use (or drafts for comment) without signing them.

You could do this within your management system wiki or with your document coding scheme.

John
 
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