Considerations for an effective management review of the quality system

This paper is an excerpt from Meet The Registrar (see ASQC Quality Press, February, 1997) and is intended to offer the reader the author's personal suggestions, required criteria, and considerations for preparing, implementing, and then documenting formal management reviews of a company's quality management system. As a prerequisite, there must be clearly defined, documented and measurable quality objectives against which the system's performance can be assessed. Effective management reviews can be realized if they are approached as any other process, having inputs, actions and outputs; if personnel responsibilities are clearly defined; and if essential documentation is produced. When done consistently, properly and thoroughly, these reviews will enable executive management to assure the system's continuing suitability and effectiveness in satisfying the company's quality policy and objectives, their organizational goals, and their customers' needs and expectations. Effective management reviews will cause the quality system to improve proactively over time and will further assure a return on the company's investment in the system.