ISO 9001:2000 is a standard that specifies criteria for a quality management system (QMS). A QMS incorporates those elements of an organization's management system that direct and control it with regard to quality. Such a system will need to be supported by top management who will need to be able to demonstrate management commitment.
Management commitment is one of the cornerstones of ISO 9001:2000, requiring top managment to develop and improve the QMS throughout the organization. This commitment can be demonstrated by a number of methods including creating a quality policy, conducting management reviews and establishing quality objectives.
ISO 9001:2000 specifies that an organization must have a quality policy that documents the organizations overall intentions and direction related to quality as formally expressed by top management. Such a policy will include a commitment to comply with ISO 9001:2000, to continuously improve the QMS and to set and monitor measurable quality objectives.
The quality objectives are those targets sought or aimed for by the organization that are related to quality. These quality objectives must be SMART (suitable, measurable, achievable, reviewed and timely). Examples of quality objectives might be: to reduce machine down time by 20% or to reduce rework costs by a certain dollar amount. Whatever quality objectives are chosen they must be meaningful and adequately resource by the organization.
|
