Kerem TUNÇAY
Yeni Üye
- Katılım
- 3 Ağu 2019
- Mesajlar
- 20
- Tepkime puanı
- 16
- Puanları
- 3
Usually, when people think of quality management system documentation, they envision loads of documents, and unnecessary and bureaucratic procedures. This is because companies often go overboard when documenting their quality management systems. However, this doesn’t need to be the case.
It is true that the international standard for quality management systems requires certain documentation. The purpose and the benefits of the QMS documentation are manifold: it provides a clear framework of the operations in an organization, it allows consistency of processes and better understanding of the QMS, and it provides evidence for achievement of objectives and goals. When designing QMS documentation, you should focus on efficiency and create processes and documents that are applicable in your organization.
QMS documentation hierarchy
The QMS documentation can consist of different types of documents. Usually, it includes documents such as quality policy, quality manual, procedures, work instructions, quality plans, and records. The QMS documentation can be represented as a hierarchy as shown in the diagram below:
ISO 9001 requires different types of information to be documented; however, not all information needs to be documented as separate documents. It is flexible so that the organization to decide on the size of the documentation and the level of details documented. For example, small companies can have documented procedures that will be included in the QMS manual.
How to structure your QMS documentation
The international standard ISO 10013:2001 Guidelines for quality management system documentation gives directions for effective dimensioning of the QMS documentation, as well as an overview of recommended contents and structure of the different QMS document types. The following recommendations take into consideration the ISO 10013 guidelines.
1) Quality manual. The manual should fit your organization. The structure and the content of the manual can vary depending on the size of the organization, the complexity of operations, and the competence of the personnel. Small organizations can document the entire QMS in one manual. On the other side, large international organizations may have several different quality manuals. Generally, the manual includes the QMS scope, exclusions from the standard, references to relevant documents, and the business process model. The quality policy and the objectives can be part of the manual as well.
The quality manual should include most of following elements: title and table of contents; scope of the QMS; exclusions from ISO 9001, versioning information and approval; quality policy and objectives; QMS description, the business process model of the organization; definition of responsibilities for all personnel; references to relevant documents and relevant appendices.
2) Quality policy. A policy represents a declarative statement by an organization. A Quality policy should state the commitment of the organization to quality and continual improvement. Usually, this policy is used for promotional purposes and should be displayed in the organization’s premises and posted on websites, so a clear and short quality policy is convenient and is the general practice.
The Quality Policy defines the quality objectives to which the organization strives. The quality goals of organizations are defined by quantifying the quality objectives.
3) Quality procedures. Quality procedures can have different formats and structures. They can be narrative, i.e., described through text; they can be more structured by using tables; they can be more illustrative, i.e., flow charts; or they can be any combination of the above.
Quality procedures should include the following elements:
Title – for identification of the procedure;
Purpose – describing the rationale behind the procedure;
Scope – to explain what aspects will be covered in the procedure, and which aspects will not be covered;
Responsibilities and authorities of all people/functions included in any part the procedure;
Records that result from the activities described in the procedure should be defined and listed;
Document control – identification of changes, date of review, approval and version of the document should be included in accordance with the established practice for document control;
Description of activities – this is the main section of the procedure; it relates all the other elements of the procedure and describes what should be done, by whom and how, when and where. In some cases, “why” should be clarified as well. Additionally, the inputs and the outputs of the activities should be explained, including the needed resources.
Appendices may be included, if needed.
4) Work instructions. Work instructions can be part of a procedure, or they can be referenced in a procedure. Generally, work instructions have a similar structure to the procedures and cover the same elements; however, the work instructions include details of activities that need to be realized, focusing on the sequencing of the steps, tools, and methods to be used and required accuracy.
Thanks for Ana Meskovska
It is true that the international standard for quality management systems requires certain documentation. The purpose and the benefits of the QMS documentation are manifold: it provides a clear framework of the operations in an organization, it allows consistency of processes and better understanding of the QMS, and it provides evidence for achievement of objectives and goals. When designing QMS documentation, you should focus on efficiency and create processes and documents that are applicable in your organization.
QMS documentation hierarchy
The QMS documentation can consist of different types of documents. Usually, it includes documents such as quality policy, quality manual, procedures, work instructions, quality plans, and records. The QMS documentation can be represented as a hierarchy as shown in the diagram below:
ISO 9001 requires different types of information to be documented; however, not all information needs to be documented as separate documents. It is flexible so that the organization to decide on the size of the documentation and the level of details documented. For example, small companies can have documented procedures that will be included in the QMS manual.
How to structure your QMS documentation
The international standard ISO 10013:2001 Guidelines for quality management system documentation gives directions for effective dimensioning of the QMS documentation, as well as an overview of recommended contents and structure of the different QMS document types. The following recommendations take into consideration the ISO 10013 guidelines.
1) Quality manual. The manual should fit your organization. The structure and the content of the manual can vary depending on the size of the organization, the complexity of operations, and the competence of the personnel. Small organizations can document the entire QMS in one manual. On the other side, large international organizations may have several different quality manuals. Generally, the manual includes the QMS scope, exclusions from the standard, references to relevant documents, and the business process model. The quality policy and the objectives can be part of the manual as well.
The quality manual should include most of following elements: title and table of contents; scope of the QMS; exclusions from ISO 9001, versioning information and approval; quality policy and objectives; QMS description, the business process model of the organization; definition of responsibilities for all personnel; references to relevant documents and relevant appendices.
2) Quality policy. A policy represents a declarative statement by an organization. A Quality policy should state the commitment of the organization to quality and continual improvement. Usually, this policy is used for promotional purposes and should be displayed in the organization’s premises and posted on websites, so a clear and short quality policy is convenient and is the general practice.
The Quality Policy defines the quality objectives to which the organization strives. The quality goals of organizations are defined by quantifying the quality objectives.
3) Quality procedures. Quality procedures can have different formats and structures. They can be narrative, i.e., described through text; they can be more structured by using tables; they can be more illustrative, i.e., flow charts; or they can be any combination of the above.
Quality procedures should include the following elements:
Title – for identification of the procedure;
Purpose – describing the rationale behind the procedure;
Scope – to explain what aspects will be covered in the procedure, and which aspects will not be covered;
Responsibilities and authorities of all people/functions included in any part the procedure;
Records that result from the activities described in the procedure should be defined and listed;
Document control – identification of changes, date of review, approval and version of the document should be included in accordance with the established practice for document control;
Description of activities – this is the main section of the procedure; it relates all the other elements of the procedure and describes what should be done, by whom and how, when and where. In some cases, “why” should be clarified as well. Additionally, the inputs and the outputs of the activities should be explained, including the needed resources.
Appendices may be included, if needed.
4) Work instructions. Work instructions can be part of a procedure, or they can be referenced in a procedure. Generally, work instructions have a similar structure to the procedures and cover the same elements; however, the work instructions include details of activities that need to be realized, focusing on the sequencing of the steps, tools, and methods to be used and required accuracy.
Thanks for Ana Meskovska
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