What is ISO 9001:2000 Clause 6.2.2 and what does it require?

Clause 6.2.2 of ISO 9001 specifies quality system requirements for competence, awareness and training.

 Specifically, clause 6.2.2 requires that we do the following:

- Determine the necessary competence for personnel performing work affecting product quality.

- Provide training or take other actions to satisfy these needs.

- Evaluate the effectiveness of the actions taken.

- Ensure that its personnel are aware of the relevance and importance of their activities and how they contribute to the achievement of the quality objectives.

- Maintain appropriate records of education, training, skills and experience.

The ISO 9001:2000 standard also explicitly requires that personnel be qualified for assigned tasks on the basis of appropriate education, training and/or experience (as required).  We must be able to show evidence that our employees have appropriate qualifications/training for the work they are currently required to perform.  The Job Requirements Checklist (JRC) serves as a tool to fulfill this ISO requirement.

In determining necessary competence, providing training, and documenting training, you must account for ALL training that employees require and subsequently receive.   Traditionally, we do a good job of identifying the need for formal training and then documenting when it takes place, but we are, unfortunately, not attentive enough to the more informal or non-traditional methods used to train employees.  Remember - most training that occurs in the workplace is not formal, classroom training.  Most of our training takes place via On-the-Job Training (OJT), self-study training and possibly also vendor and web-based training.  ISO makes no distinctions or exceptions in specifying which types of training need to be planned, conducted, and documented . . .  they all do.

Several topics in this Guide address Structured On-the-Job Training (OJT).  Please read them carefully.  The degree to which you conduct OJT properly in your workplace (and document it) has a direct bearing on our quality system.  It is a fact that without structure - that is, careful planning and control - OJT does not produce consistent results.  A quality system requires consistent job performance in your workplace.  Employees performing the same job tasks should be receiving the same training.  Are you managing this?  If not, you need to be.  It's a quality issue.

You also have to keep a watchful eye on records of completed training that are housed in the LMS.  You should revisit these records frequently to ensure that any Job Requirement fulfilled by training MUST be recorded in the LMS as either FORMAL or AD HOC learning.

Ensure that Job Requirements are kept current and that your employees have the qualifications needed to perform those tasks.  In summary, plan, conduct, and document training accordingly.