What 5.2.1 requires
| Element | What to write | Example phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Appropriate to purpose and context | What the company does and what quality means to its customers | "Acme machines safety-critical valve parts, so every feature on the drawing matters" |
| Supports strategic direction | Link to where the business is going | "...as we grow into aerospace work" |
| Framework for objectives | Say objectives are set from the policy and reviewed | "We set measurable quality objectives each year and review them at management review" |
| Commitment to satisfy applicable requirements | Customer, statutory and regulatory | "We meet customer, statutory and regulatory requirements" |
| Commitment to continual improvement of the QMS | Improvement of the system, not only products | "...and continually improve our processes and quality system" |
5.2.2 adds: the policy is documented information, communicated, understood and applied inside the company, and available to relevant interested parties (website, supplier portal).
Drafting method
- Ask top management three questions: what do customers buy from us, what goes wrong when quality fails, where is the business heading in 3-5 years. Use their words.
- Write 50-120 words, first person plural ("we").
- Cover the four mandatory commitments in plain language.
- Leave numbers out: targets belong in objectives so the policy survives several years.
- Run
policy_check.py, then test it on two operators: can they say what it means for their job?
Examples
Machine shop (40 people):
Acme Precision machines aluminium and steel parts that customers build into pumps and valves. We deliver every part to drawing and on the date we promised. We meet our customers' requirements and the law, set measurable quality objectives each year and review them with the whole team, and continually improve our processes and our quality management system.
Software/services company:
Northwind builds payroll software that thousands of employers rely on to pay people correctly and on time. We meet our customers' contractual and legal requirements, including data protection, set quality objectives for accuracy, availability and support response, and continually improve how we design, test and support our product.
Weak (common) policy and why:
"We are committed to world-class quality and zero defects to exceed customer expectations." Missing: applicable requirements, continual improvement, objectives framework, anything about this company.
Proving it is understood (auditor interview)
Auditors ask shop-floor staff "what does the quality policy mean for your job?". Good answers link the policy to their work ("check the first part against the drawing before running the batch"). Build this into induction and toolbox talks; reciting the text is not required and not enough.
8d-problem-solving-report-writer
Write and review 8D problem-solving reports for customer complaints and serious nonconformities (automotive and aerospace practice: Ford Global 8D, VDA, GM, Stellantis formats): D0 emergency response, D1 cross-functional team and champion, D2 problem description with 5W2H and is / is-not and no cause in the statement, D3 interim containment within 24 hours with verification and clean point, D4 verified occurrence and escape (non-detection) root causes plus systemic cause, D5 permanent corrective actions for each cause verified before implementation, D6 implementation, validation with production data and removal of containment, D7 PFMEA, control plan and read-across to similar products, D8 closure and recognition. Checks an 8D discipline by discipline for missing content, human-error root causes, missing escape cause or action, late containment and dates out of order.
acceptance-sampling-plan-selector
Select and evaluate acceptance sampling plans for incoming, in-process and final inspection: ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 / ISO 2859-1 single sampling under normal inspection (code letter from lot size and inspection level I, II, III, S-1 to S-4; sample size, Ac and Re from AQL, following the table's arrows to the correct plan; 100% when n reaches the lot size; AQLs above 10 per 100 units), operating characteristic curves (Pa at any quality, producer's quality level, indifference point, LTPD, AOQ and AOQL, binomial or hypergeometric), plans designed from producer and consumer risk, and c = 0 zero-acceptance plans. Covers AQL choice by defect class, switching rules between normal, tightened and reduced inspection, when sampling is not appropriate, and random sampling.
approved-supplier-list-manager
Manage and audit an approved supplier list (ASL) / external provider register for ISO 9001 8.4.1, IATF 16949 8.4 and AS9100 8.4.1: supplier status (approved, conditional, probation, pending, disqualified), scope of approval by commodity and process, risk class, certification and expiry, re-evaluation intervals by risk, conditions with end dates, single-source contingency, approver and customer-directed sources. Audits the list for expired or expiring certificates, overdue re-evaluations, conditional or probation status past its decision date, high-risk suppliers without the required certification, single-source suppliers without backup and missing approvers, and checks purchase orders for suppliers that are off-list, disqualified or pending, or buying outside the approved scope. Covers ERP blocks, PO requirements, off-list and emergency purchases.
apqp-phase-planner
Plan and track Advanced Product Quality Planning (AIAG APQP 3rd edition, IATF 16949) for a new or changed automotive part: back-schedule the five phases (plan and define, product design, process design, product and process validation, launch and feedback) from the start-of-production date by program complexity, with overlap, PPAP lead and safe-launch period; list the deliverables and gate for each phase (DFMEA, DVP&R, feasibility, process flow, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, Ppk, run at rate, PPAP, safe launch, lessons learned); adjust for build-to-print suppliers; flag compressed timelines and late or untracked deliverables against a status list. Covers gate reviews, red/yellow/green status reporting, run at rate and safe-launch exit criteria.
as9100-gap-analyzer
Run an AS9100D / EN 9100:2018 gap analysis for aviation, space and defence suppliers on the requirements added to ISO 9001: on-time delivery and conformity focus, management representative, ethics and human-factors awareness, operational planning and operational risk management, configuration management, product safety, counterfeit-part prevention, special requirements, critical items and key characteristics, external provider register and flow-down, FOD prevention, tooling and NC program control, special process validation, first article inspection (AS9102), traceability, in-service data and nonconforming product control. Generates and scores a worksheet, grades missing core controls as major, and checks invalid n/a claims. Covers AS9101/AS9104, OASIS, AS9102 FAI forms, counterfeit standards (AS5553, AS6174, AS6081), NADCAP and the planned IA9100 transition.
audit-report-writer
Write internal, supplier and pre-certification audit reports with the content ISO 19011:2018 6.5 expects: audit objectives, scope, criteria with revisions, dates, team and auditees, method and sampling statement, specific strengths, findings table and three-part finding details (requirement, evidence, statement), conclusion on the degree of fulfilment of criteria, diverging opinions, follow-up deadlines and distribution. Builds a Markdown report from a JSON audit record, generates the conclusion from the findings (major / minor / none) and flags reports missing required content or findings without clause or evidence. Covers conclusion wording, closing meetings, response expectations and verifying corrective actions.