ABSTRACT
The organization needs to empower its people to implement the policy and achieve the objectives through effectively managed processes. Only then will it be able to accomplish its mission, realize its vision and achieve its goals. This starts by assigning responsibility and delegating authority for the work to be done and from this determining the competences of those concerned. This chapter examines the six requirements in Clause 5.3, namely: assigning and communicating responsibilities and authorities; responsibility and authority for ensuring conformity to ISO 9001; responsibility and authority for ensuring process performance; responsibility and authority for reporting QMS performance; responsibility and authority for promoting customer focus; and responsibility and authority for ensuring QMS integrity. Each manager cannot measure the performance of the organization relative to quality from information generated by their function alone. Individually they carry responsibility for the utilization of resources within their own area.
