ISO 9001 Responsibility, authority and communication

• Free PDCA Guidance
• PLAN your quality system
• DO day-to-day tasks
• CHECK the results
• ACT to improve

• ISO 9000:2005 Principles
• Process approach
• Leadership and people
• Customer focus

• ISO 9001:2008 Base Clauses
• 4.1a - 4.1d Process planning
• 5.1 Management commitment
• 5.3 Quality policy
• 5.2 Customer focus

• ISO 9001:2008 Requirements
• 4.2 Documentation
• 7.1 Process planning
• 5.3.3 Communication
• 6.2 Human resources
• 7.2 Customer processes
• 8.2.1 Customer satisfaction

Top management shall ensure that responsibilities and authorities are defined and communicated within the organisation. There are three aspects to this requirement: 

• Responsibility and authority 5.5.1 job descriptions and organisation charts
• Management representative 5.5.2 define the quality manager's role
• Internal communication 5.5.3  communicate results to staff

5.5 Responsibility, Authority and Communication

5.5.1 Responsibility and Authority

Develop and insert a management hierarchy/organisation chart and define job descriptions:

• Clearly define roles, responsibilities and authorities
• Communicate responsibilities and authorities

5.5.2 Management representative

Assign a Quality Management Representative who will be responsible for:

• Overseeing the quality management system
• Reporting the status of your quality management system
• Supporting the improvement of your quality management system