ISO 9001:2015 Clause 7.3

What is ISO 9001:2015 Clause 7.3?

Clause 7.3 of ISO 9001:2015 is titled “Awareness.” It outlines the requirements for an organization to ensure that people within the organization are aware of the quality management system (QMS) and how their work contributes to its effectiveness.

Key points outlined in Clause 7.3 include:

Communication:

The organization must ensure that employees are aware of the quality policy, objectives, their roles, and the importance of meeting customer requirements.

Training and Competence:

Employees need to be competent to perform their tasks effectively. This clause emphasizes the need for identifying training needs, providing necessary training, evaluating its effectiveness, and maintaining records of employee competence.

Promoting Awareness:

This involves making sure that employees understand the relevance and importance of their activities in meeting quality objectives, enhancing customer satisfaction, and maintaining the QMS.

In essence, Clause 7.3 stresses the importance of creating a culture of awareness and competence within an organization, where everyone understands the significance of their contributions to quality and customer satisfaction.

How do you comply with Clause 7.3?

Compliance with Clause 7.3 of ISO 9001:2015 involves several steps to ensure that the organization effectively communicates, trains, and promotes awareness among its employees regarding the quality management system (QMS) and their roles within it. Here’s how you can comply with Clause 7.3:

Communication of the QMS:

Establish clear communication channels to disseminate information about the QMS, including the quality policy, objectives, procedures, and any changes. This can be through meetings, emails, intranet, notice boards, etc.

Training Needs Analysis: Identify the skills and competencies required for each role within the organization. Conduct a training needs analysis to determine the gaps between current skills and required competencies.

Training Programs:

Develop and implement training programs to bridge the identified gaps. Ensure that these programs cover not only technical skills but also knowledge about the QMS, quality objectives, policies, and the importance of meeting customer requirements.

Training Effectiveness Evaluation:

Regularly assess the effectiveness of the training programs. Feedback, tests, evaluations, or practical assessments can help gauge the impact of the training on employee competence.

Record Keeping:

Maintain records of training activities, including who attended, what training was provided, and how it contributed to improving competence. These records help demonstrate compliance during audits.

Promoting Awareness:

Create initiatives to promote awareness and understanding of the QMS throughout the organization. This can involve workshops, newsletters, recognition programs, or sharing success stories related to quality improvements.

Management Support:

Ensure top management actively supports and promotes the importance of awareness and competence. Their involvement reinforces the significance of the QMS and encourages employee engagement.

Continuous Improvement:

Continuously monitor and improve the effectiveness of the communication and training programs. Feedback from employees and performance indicators can help identify areas for enhancement.

Remember, compliance with Clause 7.3 isn’t a one-time activity but an ongoing process. It involves creating a culture where everyone understands the importance of quality and their contribution to achieving organizational objectives through the effective implementation of the QMS.

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 7.2
• Clause 7.4
• Clause 7.5
• Clause 7.5.1
• Clause 7.5.2
• Clause 7.5.3

What is the History of Clause 7.3?

Clause 7.3, “Awareness,” in the ISO 9001 standard has its roots in the evolution of quality management principles and practices.

The ISO 9001 standard has undergone several revisions since its inception. The idea of employee awareness and competence has been a fundamental aspect of quality management systems for a long time, but its explicit inclusion in the standard evolved over different versions.

Here’s a Historical Overview:

ISO 9001:1987:

The initial version of ISO 9001 didn’t have a specific clause dedicated to awareness. However, the principles of quality management emphasize the importance of employees understanding their roles and responsibilities within the quality system.

ISO 9001:1994:

In this revision, the concept of training and competence started gaining more explicit attention. While there wasn’t a dedicated clause on awareness, elements related to training, competence, and defining responsibilities were scattered across different sections.

ISO 9001:2000:

This version marked a significant change by introducing a dedicated section on competence and awareness. Clause 6.2.2 specifically addressed the need for employees to be competent to perform their work, though it was still not as elaborately detailed as in later versions.

ISO 9001:2008:

The clause was restructured and became Clause 6.2.2 in this version, emphasizing the importance of awareness and competence. However, it was less detailed compared to the current version, ISO 9001:2015.

ISO 9001:2015:

The current version of the standard, Clause 7.3, focuses comprehensively on awareness. It requires organizations to ensure that employees are aware of the quality policy, objectives, and their contribution to achieving these objectives. Additionally, it includes aspects related to communication, training, and promoting a quality-oriented culture within the organization.

Over the years, the evolution of the ISO 9001 standard has reflected an increased emphasis on the role of employee awareness and competence in achieving and maintaining quality management systems within organizations. This evolution aligns with the broader understanding that an engaged and informed workforce is crucial for the success of a QMS.

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