ISO quality assurance plan explained

The most recent version of ISO 9001, ISO 9001:2015, provides a new approach to record and document quality management. This allows organisations to control their documenting processes and deliver the intended results without following the many mandatory procedures of the previous version. One of the essential clauses of this new approach is the quality assurance plan.

What is a quality assurance plan?

In its simplest definition, a quality assurance plan is a document that specifies quality standards, resources, practices, and quality control requirements. It also outlines the sequence of activities associated with a specific service, product, contract, or project.

The primary purpose of a quality assurance plan is to demonstrate how the Quality Management System (QMS) works in a specific case. This document can also be used to meet customer and regulatory requirements to maximise resources in achieving quality objectives and reducing the risk of nonconformity.

What is defined in ISO 9001 quality plans?

1. Objectives

The development of quality objectives is necessary because it defines the strategic purpose and goals of the QMS in an organisation. These objectives may include effectiveness, specifications, utilisation, cost, yield, cycle time, natural resources, and more. Properly written objectives communicate the purpose of quality systems and create a customer-based culture in a firm. In addition, quality objectives must provide a clear metric for evaluating progress and enable team members to understand the organisation’s value and purpose.

2. Steps in the process

This is a quality manual that states a company’s functions and operating procedures. These steps should define the scope of a QMS, outline the requirements of the QMS framework, and point out elements that are not included in the QMS implementation. It should also discuss the organisation’s policies and provide visual documentation of essential processes.

3. Allocation of responsibilities

An effective quality management system should include the duties of every individual in the organisation. To achieve this purpose, a company must consider its personnel, resources, equipment, information systems, and other organisational components.

4. Documented standards

These are specific standards that involve the procedures, practices, and instructions to be followed in any quality management system.

5. Testing parameters

Testing is the process of measuring, examining, or inspecting the performance or properties of an audit process at specific phases.

6. A documented procedure

Establishes the changes and adjustments made to a quality plan to continually improve the process.

7. Measuring

This provides a way for measuring the accomplishment of quality objectives and goals.

Quality plan deployment

Quality assurance plans result from specific legal regulations, strategic organisational policies, and industry standards and are geared towards meeting customer requirements for products and services.

Purpose of deployment

The purpose of deploying a quality assurance plan is to ensure products and services consistently meet customer expectations and comply with relevant standards. Quality assurance plans help organisations:

• Translate legal, regulatory, and industry requirements into actionable processes.
• Align quality practices with strategic organisational goals.
• Provide clear guidance for maintaining quality throughout production and service delivery.
• Strengthen accountability and continual improvement within the QMS.

Types of quality plans

Operating quality plans define a document from a production function showing blueprints, procedures, references to relevant standards, a customer’s order, and work instructions on manufacturing the specific item.

Strategic quality plans are created and deployed in an organisation’s planning process. They become the primary guideline for each department’s quality plan. In some cases, each department or function may build and implement its own operating quality plans.

Benefits of a quality assurance plan

A well-developed quality assurance plan helps organisations deliver consistent results while meeting customer and regulatory requirements. It improves efficiency by defining clear processes and responsibilities, reduces the likelihood of errors or nonconformities, and supports continual improvement across all operations.

Common mistakes to avoid

When creating or implementing a quality assurance plan, organisations should avoid:

• Setting unclear or unrealistic quality objectives.
• Overlooking the need for regular reviews and updates.
• Failing to define clear roles and responsibilities.
• Ignoring feedback from audits, customers, or employees.
• Neglecting proper documentation and record keeping.
• Treating the plan as a one-time task instead of a continuous process.
• Focusing solely on compliance without considering improvement opportunities.

Need help creating a quality assurance plan for your company?

In a nutshell, documenting and deploying a quality assurance plan can help an organisation achieve conformance to customer requirements, facilitate traceability, provide objective evidence, and ensure compliance to internal procedures and external standards.

As a JAS-ANZ accredited ISO Standard Certification body in Australia, we will not only enable you to unlock your business’s full potential, but we can also help track your company’s success. Get in contact with us today!