ISO 9001 adopts a risk-based (“preventive”) approach to quality that covers a wide range of topics, including your supplier’s top management commitment to quality, its customer focus, the adequacy of its resources, employee competence, process management (for production, service delivery and relevant administrative and support processes), quality planning, design of the products and services it provides, review of incoming orders, purchasing, the appropriate monitoring and measurement of its processes, products and services needed to ensure conformity, its processes to resolve customer complaints, corrective actions, and a requirement to drive improvement. Last but not least, there is a requirement for your supplier to monitor your perceptions about the quality of the products and services it provides to you. ISO 9001 does not define specific requirements for the products or services you are purchasing. It is up to you to make your own needs and expectations clear to your supplier. You might, for example, refer to product or service specifications, drawings, national or international standards, supplier’s catalogues, or other documents as appropriate.
