Understanding Section 7.3

Awareness

This is an educational article on Section 7.3 of ISO 9001, entitled “Awareness”.

The purpose of this article is to give you an understanding of what Section 7.3 requires.

This article is directed towards:

• Those responsible for compliance to section 7.3.
• Those responsible for raising awareness of ISO 9001.
• Others interested in understanding section 7.3.

First, who needs to be aware of these things?

The language of the standard is as follows:

“persons doing work under the organization’s control”.

This includes external providers doing work under your control.

These people need to be aware of all four things, from the quality policy to the implication of nonconformity to QMS requirements.

Next, the quality policy.

In this section, section 7.3, you are required to ensure awareness of the quality policy by persons doing work under your control.

In another section of ISO 9001, in section 5.2.2, you are required to ensure the quality policy is:

• Documented and accessible,
• Communicated, understood and applied within the organization, and
• Available to relevant interested parties.

The section 5.2.2 requirements would seem to result in the awareness required in section 7.3, right?  Yes, but 5.2.2 only requires availability of the policy to relevant interested parties, and in one instance limits its scope to those who are “within the organization.” Section 7.3, however, requires awareness of the policy by all who are “doing work under your control” whether or not they are “within the organization”  Again, subcontractors who are under your control would fall into this category. Awareness implies more than mere availability, so some affirmation on the part of the recipient that they are aware of the policy would be preferred.

Next, the quality objectives.

You are required to ensure awareness of the relevant quality objectives by persons doing work under your control.

Of all quality objectives?  No! The standard requires awareness of “relevant” quality objectives – that is, the quality objectives that relate to the work being done by that person.  

Next, contribution to effectiveness.

Essentially this adds up to understanding one’s role within the QMS and how that role contributes to improved quality performance.

This requirement is very specific to each individual, and therefore may require additional attention and training to ensure awareness.

Identify exactly how you intend to convey this awareness to those doing work under your control, and ensure it is carried out. I recommend having a record of awareness training.

Next, implications of nonconformance to QMS requirements.

This is essentially the flip side of the last requirement, if you truly understand your potential contribution within the QMS, you should also understand the consequences of your failure to contribute within the QMS.

Again, this requirement is very specific to each individual, and therefore may require additional attention or training to ensure awareness.

Again, identify exactly how you intend to convey this awareness to those doing work under your control, and ensure it is carried out. Again, I recommend having a record of awareness training.

For more information on how to implement this section, see our implementation videos for section 7.3, and also review our template library  for examples.