Management Representative

The first step in implementing ISO 9001 in your organisation is the appointment of a management representative (MR). This is a requirement as per the clause 5.5.2 of ISO 9001:2008

There is a clarification in the ISO 9001:2008 version that the MR should be from the organization itself and not an external person or consultant.

Now the obvious question arises : Who can be appointed as a MR?

The answer depends on the size of the organisation. Usually it is the Quality Manager of the organization that takes up the role of the MR. That does not mean that if you do not have a Quality Manager you have to go and hire one.

Anybody who has good understanding of the ISO Requirements, Quality Management Systems can be appointed as a MR.If you do not have anybody like that, it is better to find someone from your team who can be trained for ISO knowledge ( ISO Awareness, Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor)

It is not mandatory to have somebody in a managerial position but still it would be better to have a manager.MR should be someone who has a fairly high authority in the organization.Someone who is in a low position authority will not be able to effectively implement and manage the QMS

In smaller companies it would be much better if a member of the top management ( Managing Director, General Manager etc.) directly takes up the responsibility of the MR.

In bigger companies the Quality Manager ( if they have one) is appointed as the MR.

Please ensure that you have evidence to show that the MR has been appointed. It can be through an appointment letter or an approved organisation chart that has MR in it. Any other evidence that can prove that appointment has been done is also acceptable.

Now let us go to the details of the qualifications, skills and experience to be the perfect MR

Qualifications:

Internal Auditor Training for ISO 9001(preferred)
Lead Auditor Training for ISO 9001 (not mandatory)

Job Responsibilities:

Able to develop and implement the QMS in the organization
Able to develop the manual, procedures, formats and any other document required for the QMS
Able to train and develop awareness among the employees for the QMS
Prepare internal audit schedule, conduct internal audits and raise non conformities
Initiate necessary corrective and preventive action
Review the Quality Policy and Quality objectives periodically
Conduct Management Review as per ISO 9001
Coordinate with External certification body for ISO 9001 certification
Represent the management during certification audits and surveillance audits

Skills:

Good Analytic skills
Good communication skills
Good auditing skills

Experience:

Previous experience in a Quality Management System implemented organisation
Previous Auditing experience