Getting to Know Your Management Rep Pt. 1
ISO 9001, ISO 13485 & AS9100 all call out a requirement to have a member of management assigned as the quality management representative (It should be noted that ISO 9001: 2015 has removed this requirement, however, someone(s) will still need to fulfill the responsibilities). It is important that you document in some way (appointment letter, management review minutes) that top managem
ent has appointed this person to the position. I have previously published “Steve’s Particular Set of Skills” for this position, and now I will review the responsibilities placed on this individual.
Having the right person for this position can make or break your QMS (quality management system), and to help you understand the role and how it can fit into your existing organization. While this role is often taken on by the quality manager, it is not a requirement that this be the case; any member of management can be assigned these responsibilities. The Management Rep is the face of the QMS and often has extensive face time with your customers
Major Responsibilities of the Management Representative
Role 1. QMS Process Maintenance. The standard asks that the management representative ensure that the QMS processes are established, implemented and maintained to comply with the standard. This may involve review of internal audits, discussion with process owners, and review of the processes and procedures to ensure they are properly maintained. Companies that try to manage this through a “divide and conquer” process owner effort generally fail with no single person having responsibility and authority. By having a focal point for the overall processes, the management rep can not only ensure that each process is functioning, but that the interaction of the processes is maintained. By doing this, the interactions can then start to be optimized; because it is not always the case that optimization in one process is the best thing for the overall system.
The next blog will cover Role 2. Reporting on QMS performance.
Contact me for a free phone consultation and for my free ISO 9001:2015 Readiness Checklist and perform a quick self-assessment to gage your preparedness for the new standard. Then call to see how I can help.
920-841-3478
Steve@TheRightApproachConsulting.com