What Does ISO 9001 Clause 7.3 Awareness mean?
Updated: Nov 1
ISO 9001:2015 Clause 7.3 focuses on "Awareness," emphasizing the necessity of ensuring that individuals within the organization are informed and cognizant of various aspects related to the quality management system (QMS).
Clause 7.3 Awareness
Quality Policy Awareness: Individuals working within the organization must understand the quality policy, its content, and its significance. This includes being aware of the company's commitment to quality and the general principles outlined in the quality policy.
Relevant Quality Objectives: It is important for the employees to be aware of the specific quality objectives that the organization has set. These objectives should be communicated, and the employees must understand how their roles and actions contribute to achieving these objectives.
Contributions to the Quality Management System: Individuals should be cognizant of how their work and contributions affect the overall effectiveness of the quality management system. This encompasses understanding how their actions impact the quality of products or services and recognizing the benefits of improving performance.
Implications of Non-Conformance: Employees should comprehend the implications of not adhering to the requirements of the quality management system. This includes understanding the potential consequences of not complying with the established standards, policies, and procedures.
Example of Clause 7.3 Awareness in an Organization
Quality Training Sessions: The company regularly conducts training programs or workshops to educate its employees about the organization's quality policy, objectives, and the significance of adhering to the quality management system. During these sessions, employees learn how their roles directly influence the company's quality objectives and understand the implications of non-conformance with quality standards. Moreover, these training sessions could emphasize real-life scenarios, case studies, or examples to illustrate the impact of their contributions to the organization's overall quality goals.
Daily Stand-Up Meetings: The company regularly conducts short, start of shift meetings, lasting no longer than 10-minutes. At each meeting the quality policy, quality objectives, and the importance of following the QMS are discussed along with shift notes and other reminders.
This helps create a workplace culture where every employee comprehends their responsibilities towards maintaining quality standards and is aware of the essential role they play in achieving the organization's quality objectives.
ISO 9001:2015 Clause 7.3 Awareness
Ensuring that everyone in the organization is aware of these crucial aspects promotes a culture of quality and understanding among employees, aligning their efforts with the goals and requirements of the quality management system.