I could be wrong, it's been a long time since I've worked with ISO9001. I would argue though if you've not completed any review since the last audit, how can you prove you do a review?
I was slightly wrong on BRC, they do specify in section 1.1.3 that it must be minimum annual, however, they also require that you report and monitor KPIs to senior management quarterly in section 1.1.2 and I've got no idea how you do that without having a meeting.
It also requires in section 1.1.4 that you have a demonstrable meeting programme to enable the escallation of legal, quality and food safety issues on a minimum monthly basis.
Now the above is very prescriptive but IME there are few companies which could genuinely say that they would not benefit from the above. In most companies there is a daily or weekly meeting to escallate issues and anything between monthly and quarterly reviews. Is quality really only worth talking about once a year or even less as you're suggesting? Are senior members of your team that busy they can't afford 1 meeting a year to quality? Surely that shows lack of senior management commitment!
Strictly speaking about ISO 9001... It says:
5.6 Management Review
5.6.1 General
Top management shall review the organization's quality management system, at planned intervals, to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness. This review shall include assessing opportunities for improvement and the need for changes to the quality management system, including the quality policy and quality objectives.
Records from management reviews shall be maintained (see 4.2.4).
5.6.2 Review Input
The input to management review shall include information on
a) results of audits,
b) customer feedback,
c) process performance and product conformity,
d) status of preventive and corrective actions,
e) follow-up actions from previous management reviews,
f) changes that could affect the quality management system, and
g) recommendations for improvement.
5.6.3 Review Output
The output from the management review shall include any decisions and actions related to
a) improvement of the effectiveness of the quality management system and its processes,
b) improvement of product related to customer requirements, and
c) resource needs.
Nowhere is the word meeting used. There is no requirement for a meeting per se. The key words are "review" and "at planned intervals". No method is specified. No frequency is specified.
Again, I'm not familiar with BRC, but KPI is only one acceptable method to evaluate effectiveness for Management Review Process.
I think as long as you have regularly used the required info to review the system and take appropriate action, that's all you need, IMO.
Edited by mind over matter, 02 December 2011 - 12:48 AM.