Organization

ISO 9001 section 5.5.1 states:

"Top management shall ensure that responsibilities and authorities are defined and communicated within the organization." 

To meet this requirement, it is common for the quality manual to include an organization chart, or reference a documented chart.  I like to include the organization chart in the manual, with titles, but no names.  There are a couple of reasons for this:

·         Organizations change over time, and invariably the organization chart changes as new players are added or reporting changes.  If the manual references an organization chart, that chart must be kept up to date, and must be a controlled document.  It's not common for SMBs to manage a controlled organization chart, and many smaller companies don't have one at all.

·         If the manual has a detailed organization chart, the manual must be revised.  In an organization with lots of personnel changes, this can be overbearing.

Keeping a simple, general chart in the manual is a good compromise.  A chart like the one below usually passes muster with the external auditor, and rarely changes:

The old saw prevails - keep it simple.