Management Commitment

Let’s start with the cut and paste from the standard;
Top management provides evidence of its commitment to the development and implementation of the quality management system and continually improving its effectiveness by
a) communicating to all personnel 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.

The standard is quite explicit about this and it concerns the development, implementation and improvement of the quality management system.  And if you have a certified quality management system you will have the required evidence to demonstrate such commitment.  In fact without that evidence you shouldn’t be certified.  But don’t let our auditing fraternity make you develop specific processes or procedures around the bullet points above.  Just make sure that in a cross reference document or quality management system road map, you have direct correlations between the standard and the evidence you will present as demonstrating conformance.  Don’t get diluted or wishy washy (technical term) here folks, direct linkages need to be highlighted.

In a nutshell, develop a communication plan and submit it to management review or steering committee during the development and implementation of your qms.  Refer to the quality policy, the goals and objectives toward quality.  Reviewing each during management review and of course, make sure you have the right resources to achieve each.  Notice anything special about this clause yet?  That’s right, they are each mirrored / cross referenced in the body of the standard, so if you get this clause right or the other 5 right, you should self-determine the effectiveness.  Just remember, don’t fall into the trap of cross referencing between each of these elements and then forget to do generate the required records.  A rookie mistake so be aware.

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