5.1 Leadership and Commitment (5.1.1)

5. LEADERSHIP

5.1 Leadership and Commitment

5.1.1 General

Top management shall demonstrate leadership and commitment with respect to the quality management system by:

• a) taking accountability for the effectiveness of the quality management system
• b) ensuring that the quality policy and quality objectives are established for the quality management system and are compatible with the context and strategic direction of the organization;
• c) ensuring the integration of the quality management system requirements into the organization’s business processes;
• d) promoting the use of the process approach and risk-based thinking;
• e) ensuring that the resources needed for the quality management system are available;
• f) communicating the importance of effective quality management and of conforming to the quality management system requirements;
• g) ensuring that the quality management system achieves its intended results;
• h) engaging, directing and supporting persons to contribute to the effectiveness of the quality management system;
• i) promoting improvement;
• j) supporting other relevant management roles to demonstrate their leadership as it applies to their areas of responsibility.

NOTE Reference to “business” in this International Standard can be interpreted broadly to mean those activities that are core to the purposes of the organization’s existence, whether the organization is public, private, for profit or not for profit.