From Lynn Clyde, BRC Consultant
The following is a typical auditing scenario that might be found when auditing an ISO 9001:2008 QMS for clause 5.1 Management Commitment. Read the scenario to determine if you think it would be conforming or nonconforming, then read the answer and explanation.
Support Information – ISO 9001:2008 Clause 5.1
Top management shall provide evidence of its commitment to the development and implementation of the quality management system and continually improving its effectiveness by
a) communicating to the organization the importance of meeting customer as well as statutory and regulatory requirements,
b) establishing the quality policy,
c) ensuring that quality objectives are established,
d) conducting management reviews, and
e) ensuring the availability of resources.
Scenario
The auditor was interviewing top management and asked for evidence of communicating to the employees about customer requirements as well as statutory and regulatory requirements. The president said that they do this in their weekly production meetings, where they discuss the requirements of the product, customer expectations, customer complaints, delivery requirements, as well as statutory and regulatory requirements.
When the auditor asked to see minutes of the meeting as evidence, the president said “we don’t have minutes, but I can show you all of the information that we review, and the changes to the production schedule and the product/process specifications that are a result of the meeting”. The auditor said this was not adequate and minutes are the best way to show this evidence.
Answer
Conforming.
Explanation
This clause requires that senior management show evidence of communicating requirements to the employees. The standard does not specifically identify the type of evidence that must be available to show this is being done. The methods of communicating this information could be through email, memo, newsletter, meetings, bulletin boards, videos, etc.
Evidence of this could be shown through meeting minutes, attendance records, agendas, and the information that is reviewed in the communication sessions. The ultimate evidence is to ask employees if they have been communicated this type of information. The information provided in the scenario is adequate.
