Quality Objectives

When isn’t one of my blogs controversial?  Well, only for those with the title ‘learned colleague’ or with CB expectations / baggage.  Two whole sentences, one small sub section and it can cause so much angst.

‘5.4.Planning.  5.4.1.Quality objectives.  Top management ensures that quality objectives, including those needed to meet requirements for product (see 7.1.a) are established at relevant functions and levels within the organisation.  The quality objectives are measurable and consistent with the quality policy.’

So as far as I am concerned, the above does not say you have to have objectives stated in your quality policy.  It does not say you have to have metrics around product characteristics and it does not say a whole lot more.  What it does require is; you have objectives (plural), ‘if needed’ at least one concerning product (or service) and that when they are established, but more importantly, communicated, they are relevant to the person / function receiving the information.

Perhaps the most important process is to ensure what is stated in your quality policy can be then ‘converted’ into measurable objectives for the organisation.  That means all quality policy components should have a corresponding objective and that there should not be any objectives that are not included in the policy statement.  Easy.  Next time I will explain the mechanics.

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