The 2015 version of ISO 9001 will be published next year and I have seen the Draft and interpretation document written by CQI/Ideagen. Of the changes the most significant are the ones related to “Senior Management Commitment”.
5 Leadership
5.1 Leadership and commitment
5.1.1 Leadership and commitment to the quality management system
In DIS 9001:2014 replaces “Management responsibility” with “Leadership”, and repositions a number of ISO 9001:2008 requirements as leadership activities and (importantly) some which cannot be delegated. Broadly this section requires senior management to:
• Take accountability for the effectiveness of their organisation’s QMS
• Ensure the quality policy and quality objectives are consistent with the organisation’s overall strategic direction
• Work alongside their people in order to ensure that the quality objectives are achieved.
• Ensure that the quality policy is communicated, understood and applied across the organisation.
• Ensure QMS requirements are integral to the organisation’s business processes – and not a “bolt on”.
• Promote awareness and the adoption of the “process approach”
• Ensure resources required for the effective operation of the QMS are made available.
• Stress the importance of effective quality management and of conforming to the requirements of the QMS
• Make sure that the QMS is achieving the results intended and must lead people to contribute to the effective operation of the system.
• Drive continual improvement and innovation, and develop leadership in their managers.
There are also changes in sections:
5.1.2 Customer focus
5.2 Quality policy
5.3 Organizational roles, responsibilities and authorities
Demonstrating senior management commitment is no longer as simple as paying for a quality department and reluctantly sitting in an annual management review meeting playing with blackberry; many of the new requirements cannot be delegated and will be audited. Senior management is expected to have a ‘hands on’ approach....and LEAD the QMS.
I think this is an important change and no doubt Food Safety Management Systems standards will follow in the coming years.
It very much depends on starting point of organisation how much of a change this means to you.