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Quality Manual	5 – Management Responsibility
Section 5.4	Section Revision: A	Revision Date: 7/12/2010
5.4 – Quality Planning
Approved By: Todd Gifford		Date: 7/12/2010

GENERAL POLICY

Quality objectives are established to support and implement the quality policy and continual improvement. Quality planning includes identification and determination of quality system processes (including any exclusions of ISO 9001 requirements); priorities for continual improvement; and resources needed to achieve quality objectives and to maintain and improve the quality system. Quality plans are periodically reviewed and updated to maintain the integrity of the quality system during organizational and other changes.

PROCEDURAL POLICIES

1. Quality objectives

1.1 Quality objectives are established throughout the organization to implement the quality policy, to meet requirements for products and processes, and to improve quality system and quality performance.

1.2 Quality objectives define the direction and priorities for continual improvement. Use of quality objectives for facilitating continual improvement is explained in Operational Procedure QOP-85-01, Continual Improvement.

1.3 Quality objectives are classified into the following four categories:

Policy objectives:

These are principal, strategic objectives that apply to the whole organization (Continuous Improvement Objectives). They are typically included in the Quality Policy itself, or may be communicated in memoranda from the top management. Policy objectives are authorized by the President.

Quality performance objectives:

These objectives set specific, measurable targets for improving operational performance to ensure customer satisfaction (examples are: improvement of on-time delivery performance, improvement in delivery of un-damaged product, etc…). They apply to departments and functions having direct responsibility for activities that require improvement. Performance objectives are established, documented, and monitored within the framework of management reviews of the quality system, in accordance with Operational Procedures QOP-56-01, Management Review.

Service quality objectives:

. These objectives pertain to improvement of services (examples are improved packaging techniques, improvement in Packing Slips, improvement customer alerts, etc…). Service objectives are established by the President and top executive managers responsible for marketing and product/service development. They can be documented in product briefs, memoranda, or minutes of meetings; and apply to functions responsible for development of services.

Quality system objectives:

These objectives pertain to improvement of quality system processes and performance (examples are: Customer Recognition Awards, expansion of ISO9000 Certification to other facilities, etc…). Quality system objectives are established, documented, and monitored within the framework of management reviews of the quality system, in accordance with Operational Procedure QOP-56-01, Management Review.

 

2. Quality system planning

2.1 Quality system elements and processes are planned to ensure that the system is appropriate for its intended purpose, and that it is effective and efficient. The purpose of the quality system is:

To achieve the quality policy;

To ensure and demonstrate our ability to provide consistently product and services that meets customer and regulatory requirements;

To ensure high level of customer satisfaction;

To facilitate continual improvement; and

To comply with requirements of ISO 9001 standard.

2.2 The output of quality system planning is documented in this quality manual, in associated operational procedures, and in other referenced documents. These documents identify and define all elements and processes of the quality system.

2.3 Changes to the quality system are planned within the framework of management reviews (refer to Operational Procedure QOP-56-01, Management Review). These changes may be in response to changing circumstances, such as product, process, capacity, or other operational or organizational change; or to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the quality system.

3. Product realization and verification planning

3.1 Planning of product realization, verification, and validation processes is addressed in Section 7.1 of this manual.

4. Continual improvement planning

4.1 Improvements of the quality system are planned within the framework of management reviews. The output of this planning is expressed in the form of quality system objectives, as defined above in Clause 1.3 of this section, and in Operational Procedures QOP-85-01, Continual Improvement; and QOP-56-01, Management Review.

ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

QOP-56-01 Operational Procedure: Management Review

QOP-85-01 Operational Procedure: Continual Improvement