Control of Production and Service

In section 7.1 you are asked to plan for all of your product realization processes, including processes that do not result in the product or service that is delivered to the customer (customer-related processes, design and development and purchasing). Planning included identifying things like:

Documentation Requirements

Resources

Measuring and monitoring activities

Inspection and test activities

Product criteria

Records required

In 7.5.1 the requirements focus on the processes that actually create your hardware or your service that is delivered to your customers. You are required to follow the plan that you created based on requirements in 7.1

A written procedure for this section will be useful in defining how you are meeting these requirements. By clearly documenting the way that you are satisfying the requirements of 7.5.1 you will ensure that the requirement are understood and followed consistently.

Most organizations will also need documentation in the form of work instructions to control these processes. Your planning in 7.1 will determine where these are needed; to meet the requirements of 7.5.1 these must be in place, available to employees performing the process. Instructions can take many different forms: written steps, pictures, drawings, prints, travelers or flow charts are some of the methods used. Specify in your procedure what documents are necessary for the control of your processes.

The procedure should also state how you ensure that suitable equipment is used, and how release, delivery and post-delivery activities are controlled.