8.2.3 Monitoring and Measurement Of Processes

Purpose

This procedure describes the methods used for monitoring and measurement as part of the product realisation process.

Procedure

• (Where necessary, add specific details of how the organisation will respond to this requirement)
• All persons who carry out monitoring and measurement tasks shall be suitably qualified and competent in accordance with the procedure (6.2.2) – Competence, awareness and training.
• A person shall be nominated and authorised to confirm that a product or service is able to be delivered and meets all requirements.
• In some instances, verification may be considered as a monitoring and measurement process. This may be the case where visual checks are used because other measurements are not possible.
• As part of the competency training, individuals are qualified to check their own work.
• In some instances, each successive step in the realisation of the product is checked by the person who carries out the work before passing it on.
• A suitable method of recording that the checks have been carried out shall be included in the work records, such as an initialled box against a description of the check required.
• If required, the verification of the checking process may take the form of checklists with records of items such as dimensions, temperature, physical properties, chemical analysis etc.
• Final inspection includes a check that all inter-process checks have been completed and are satisfactory. This includes a check of all paperwork and documentation that may accompany the product.

The monitoring and measurement that is to be carried out may be listed in a number of ways, such as:

• a quality plan,
• a sampling plan,
• an inspection and test plan,
• a procedure,
• an instruction, and
• the customer’s order

Other:

Where the product or service is dispatched before test results, etc. are available, a tracking system shall be implemented to allow for the re-call of the product in the event of a problem being detected at a later date.

All inspection and test records shall indicate whether any failures occurred and the proposed action as a result of the failures. Processing actions that are necessary to bring the product or service within specifications before it is released to the next stage of operations are not considered failures.

Any failures are dealt with in accordance with the procedure for control of non conforming product (8.3)

All relevant documents are retained and stored in accordance with the procedure 4.2.4 – Control of records