AS9100 Clause 5.2.1 – Establishing the Quality Policy

AS9100 is an aerospace quality management system standard that ensures organizations meet the requirements needed to produce and deliver high-quality products and services for the aerospace industry. Clause 5.2.1 specifically deals with establishing the quality policy within an organization.

To establish a quality policy in accordance with AS9100 Clause 5.2.1, an organization should follow these steps:

1. Top management commitment: The organization’s top management should be committed to the development and implementation of the quality policy. This includes providing resources, defining roles and responsibilities, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
2. Alignment with organization’s context and strategic direction: The quality policy should be in line with the organization’s context, purpose, and strategic direction. This will ensure that the policy is relevant, effective, and drives the organization towards its goals.
3. Applicable requirements: The quality policy should address applicable statutory, regulatory, and industry-specific requirements, as well as any customer requirements.
4. Commitment to quality objectives: The policy should demonstrate a commitment to meeting quality objectives, which are measurable goals aimed at improving the organization’s quality management system.
5. Focus on customer satisfaction: The quality policy should emphasize the importance of meeting customer requirements and enhancing customer satisfaction. This includes understanding customer needs, addressing complaints, and continually improving products and services.
6. Employee engagement: The policy should include a commitment to involve employees in the development, implementation, and continual improvement of the quality management system. This can be achieved through training, communication, and promoting a culture of quality awareness.
7. Continual improvement: The quality policy should express the organization’s commitment to the continual improvement of its quality management system, products, and services. This includes regularly reviewing and updating the policy as necessary.

Once the quality policy has been established, it should be communicated to all employees within the organization and made available to relevant interested parties, as appropriate. Additionally, the policy should be reviewed and updated periodically to ensure its continued suitability and effectiveness.