I’m continuing this series of How to Guides with ISO 9001 is: ISO 9001 Clause 7.1 – Resources.
I explain what it is, and how it works in the greater scheme of the ISO family.
In December 2021, the International Organisation for Standardisation (the main ISO body) reported “over one million companies and organizations in over 170 countries certified to ISO 9001:2015. By now this number will have grown substantially, and there are many and varied good reasons why you should consider joining them.
Yet there’s one not-so-small catch…
ISO 9001 might just be the most confusing document in business history!
This series of articles and accompanying free factsheets are purpose designed to:
- Cut through the jargon
- Debunk the myths
- Make smoother sailing of your journey to certification
Here’s my analysis of ISO 9001 Clause 7.1.2 – Resources – People.
What is ISO 9001 Clause 7.1.2?
Clause 7.1.2 is part of the section on ‘Resources’ within the standard, and consists of one sentence: “The organization shall determine and provide the persons necessary for the effective implementation of its quality management system and for the operation and control of its processes.”
Of all the resources required for a business to operate effectively, people are the key. Every business has people, but are you ‘understaffed’ for the purposes of ISO 9001?
The intent of this short clause is to ensure the business has the correct human resources needed for the operation and control of its processes. Does your team have capacity for the effective implementation of the quality management system (QMS)?
Consider your current (and expected) volume of work. Assess the competence of the people who will be carrying out the functions within the QMS. Will they be able to handle operational activities, inspections, audits, complaint investigation etc?
When determining the people required, you should use risk-based thinking and consider the roles, responsibilities and authorities assigned to a process. You may decide that extra personnel are required, or enlist the help of an external provider. We will cover the Competence requirements in our forthcoming guide on clause 7.2.
