AS9100 Clause 7.3 Awareness

AS9100 7.3 Awareness is a clause of the AS9100 quality management system standard that requires organizations to ensure that all persons doing work under their control are aware of the following:

• The organization’s quality policy;
• Relevant quality objectives;
• Their own contribution to the effectiveness of the quality management system, including the benefits of improved performance;
• The implications of not conforming with the quality management system requirements;
• Relevant quality management system documented information and changes thereto;
• Their contribution to product or service conformity;
• Their contribution to product safety;
• The organization’s ethical behavior policy and its commitment to ethical behavior;
• The organization’s requirements for reporting unethical or illegal behavior.

Organizations can meet the requirements of AS9100 7.3 Awareness by implementing a variety of awareness-building activities, such as:

• Conducting training on the quality management system;
• Communicating the quality policy and objectives to all employees;
• Providing employees with opportunities to ask questions about the quality management system;
• Recognizing and rewarding employees for their contributions to the effectiveness of the quality management system;
• Investigating and taking appropriate action on any reports of non-conformances or unethical behavior.

By ensuring that all persons doing work under their control are aware of the requirements of the quality management system, organizations can help to improve the effectiveness of the system and reduce the risk of non-conformances.

Here are some additional tips for meeting the requirements of AS9100 7.3 Awareness:

• Tailor your awareness-building activities to the needs of your organization and its employees.
• Use a variety of methods to communicate the quality policy and objectives, such as training, meetings, and newsletters.
• Make it easy for employees to ask questions about the quality management system.
• Provide opportunities for employees to participate in the quality management system.
• Recognize and reward employees for their contributions to the effectiveness of the quality management system.
• Investigate and take appropriate action on any reports of non-conformances or unethical behavior.

By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your organization meets the requirements of AS9100 7.3 Awareness and improves the effectiveness of its quality management system.