ISO 9001:2015 Clause 6.2

What is ISO 9001:2015 Clause 6.2?

Clause 6.2 of ISO 9001:2015, which is part of the internationally recognized standard for quality management systems, pertains to Quality Objectives. This section focuses on establishing and maintaining quality objectives at relevant functions, levels, and processes within an organization.

Key points outlined in Clause 6.2 include:

Clause 6.2 outlines the requirements for setting measurable quality objectives that are consistent with the organization’s quality policy. Additionally, it specifies the need for these objectives to be monitored, communicated, and updated as necessary to align with the organization’s strategic direction and ensure continual improvement.

In essence, Clause 6.2 emphasizes the importance of defining clear quality objectives that support the organization’s overall quality management system and drive continual enhancement of processes and outcomes.

How do you comply with Clause 6.2?

Complying with Clause 6.2 of ISO 9001:2015 involves several key steps to establish and maintain quality objectives effectively within an organization:

Alignment with Quality Policy:

Ensure that the defined quality objectives align with the organization’s overarching quality policy. These objectives should support the commitment to meeting customer requirements and improving the quality management system.

Setting Measurable Objectives:

Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives. These objectives should be quantifiable and relevant to different functions, processes, or levels within the organization.

Relevance and Consistency:

Ensure that the quality objectives are relevant to the organization’s strategic direction, aligning with its mission, vision, and values. They should contribute to enhancing processes, products, or services.

Communicate Objectives:

Communicate the established quality objectives throughout the organization. Ensure that employees at various levels understand these objectives, their relevance, and their role in achieving them.

Monitoring and Measurement:

Establish processes to monitor and measure progress toward achieving these objectives. This might involve defining key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics to track performance and determine whether objectives are being met.

Review and Adjustment:

Regularly review the performance against these objectives during management reviews or other relevant meetings. If necessary, adjust objectives based on changing circumstances, feedback, or improvements identified through the monitoring process.

Continual Improvement:

Use the information gathered from the monitoring process to drive continual improvement. If objectives are consistently achieved, consider setting more challenging ones to promote ongoing advancement.

Documentation and Records:

Maintain documented information regarding the established quality objectives, the processes for achieving them, and the results obtained through measurement and monitoring.

By following these steps and integrating them into the organization’s quality management system, you can effectively comply with Clause 6.2 of ISO 9001:2015, thereby contributing to the continual improvement of the organization’s performance and processes.

Other ISO 9001:2015 Clauses:

• The Complete Clause 6
• Clause 6.1
• Clause 6.1.1
• Clause 6.2
• Clause 6.2.1
• Clause 6.2.2
• Clause 6.3

What is the History of Clause 6.2?

Clause 6.2, focusing on Quality Objectives, has its roots in the evolution of the ISO 9000 series, which began in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The standard aimed to provide a framework for quality management systems that could be applied universally across industries and organizations.

The specific history of Clause 6.2 within ISO 9001, though, can be traced through the various revisions of the standard:

ISO 9001:1987:

The initial version of ISO 9001 did not have the same clause structure as the current iteration. However, the concept of setting quality objectives and targets for improvement was present within the standard’s requirements.

ISO 9001:1994:

This version marked the beginning of the clause-based structure familiar in contemporary ISO standards. Clause 4.1.3 focused on establishing quality objectives and stipulated that the organization should set measurable objectives at relevant functions and levels.

ISO 9001:2000:

The standard underwent significant changes, and Clause 5.4.1 was introduced, emphasizing the need to establish quality objectives at relevant functions and levels.

ISO 9001:2008:

Clause 5.4.1 remained in this version, maintaining the requirement for establishing quality objectives aligned with the organization’s quality policy.

ISO 9001:2015:

In the current version of ISO 9001, Clause 6.2 was restructured and expanded to place greater emphasis on aligning quality objectives with the organization’s strategic direction. It outlines the requirements for setting measurable objectives, monitoring them, and ensuring they contribute to continual improvement.

Over time, the evolution of this clause reflects a more comprehensive approach to quality management, emphasizing the importance of measurable objectives that drive continual improvement and align with an organization’s overall strategic goals. This progression also reflects the ongoing refinement and maturation of quality management principles in the international standards landscape.

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