ISO 9001:2015 Clause 7.2

What is ISO 9001:2015 Clause 7.2?

ISO 9001:2015 Clause 7.2 is titled “Competence.” This clause emphasizes the importance of ensuring that personnel involved in activities that affect the quality of products or services possess the necessary competence (knowledge, skills, experience) to perform their tasks effectively.

Key points outlined in Clause 7.2 include:

Determining Competence:

Identifying the necessary competence for personnel performing work affecting product or service quality based on their roles and responsibilities within the organization.

Providing Training or Taking Actions:

Providing training, ensuring qualifications, or taking other actions to attain the required competence for personnel.

Evaluating Competence:

Evaluating the effectiveness of actions taken to ensure that personnel are competent to perform their duties. This might include performance evaluations, assessments, or other means of determining competence.

Maintaining Competence:

Ensuring that competence is maintained or improved through ongoing training, education, or experience gained on the job.

Overall, Clause 7.2 stresses the need for organizations to systematically assess the competence requirements for various roles, provide necessary training or qualifications, assess the effectiveness of these actions, and maintain the competence of personnel involved in activities impacting product or service quality.

How do you comply with Clause 7.2?

Complying with ISO 9001:2015 Clause 7.2, which focuses on ensuring competence within the organization, involves several key steps:

Identify Competence Needs:

Determine the knowledge, skills, and expertise required for each role within the organization that directly impacts product or service quality. This involves understanding job responsibilities and the associated competence requirements.

Assess Existing Competence:

Evaluate the current competence levels of personnel against the identified requirements. This might involve skills assessments, performance reviews, qualifications verification, or other methods to gauge existing competency.

Provide Necessary Training and Development:

Develop training programs, workshops, or initiatives to bridge the gap between required and existing competencies. Ensure that personnel receive adequate training to meet the identified competence needs.

Qualification and Certification:

Where applicable or necessary, ensure that personnel possess the required qualifications or certifications relevant to their roles. This might involve external certifications or internal qualifications recognized within the organization.

Ongoing Evaluation:

Regularly assess and review the effectiveness of training and development efforts. Monitor the performance of personnel to ensure that they maintain or improve their competence levels over time.

Feedback and Improvement:

Encourage feedback from personnel regarding their training experiences and the adequacy of their skill development. Use this feedback to improve training programs and continuously enhance the effectiveness of competence development efforts.

Documentation and Records:

Maintain records of competence assessments, training programs attended, certifications obtained, and any other relevant documentation related to personnel competence.

By systematically addressing these steps, organizations can demonstrate compliance with Clause 7.2 of ISO 9001:2015, ensuring that their personnel possess the necessary competence to fulfill their roles effectively, thereby contributing to the overall quality of products or services delivered.

Other ISO 9001:2015 Clauses:

• The Complete Clause 7
• Clause 7.1.1
• Clause 7.1.2
• Clause 7.1.3
• Clause 7.1.4
• Clause 7.1.5
• Clause 7.1.6
• Clause 7.3
• Clause 7.4
• Clause 7.5
• Clause 7.5.1
• Clause 7.5.2
• Clause 7.5.3

What is the History of Clause 7.2?

Emphasis on Competence

The concept of competence and the need for skilled personnel has been a fundamental aspect of quality management systems across various iterations of ISO standards. However, the explicit emphasis and dedicated clause on competence, such as Clause 7.2 in ISO 9001:2015, have evolved and become more prominent in recent versions of the standard.

In earlier versions of ISO 9001, the requirements related to competence were often scattered across different clauses. The importance of having competent personnel to perform tasks impacting product or service quality was recognized, but it wasn’t as explicitly outlined in a dedicated clause as it is in ISO 9001:2015.

The shift towards a dedicated clause on competence in ISO 9001:2015 indicates a more structured and focused approach towards ensuring that individuals possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to perform their roles effectively within a quality management system.

Systematically address Competence Requirements

The development of Clause 7.2 signifies the growing recognition within quality management systems of the pivotal role that competence plays in consistently delivering quality products or services and achieving customer satisfaction. It underscores the need for organizations to systematically address competence requirements, provide necessary training, assess effectiveness, and continuously improve the competence of personnel involved in processes affecting product or service quality.

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