Clause 7.5.1 Control of production and service provision

“If the other fellow sells cheaper than you, it is called dumping. 'Course, if you sell cheaper than him, that's mass production.”

Will Rogers (a beloved humorist and humanitarian) 

Section 7.1 states that operations need to be controlled in order to be able to provide acceptable product to customers. Section 7.5.1 requires some specific control mechanisms for organizations, specifically:

• 
  
  The availability of information that specifies the characteristics of the product. For example: in a foundry the exact specification to which the metal needs to be manufactured will be needed; in travel agency specific flight information, airport information and conditions for cancellation or change will be needed.


• 
  
  The availability of work instructions. These instructions only need to be documented where the absence of such instructions could adversely affect the quality of the product (see 7.1).


• 
  
  The use of suitable equipment for production and service operations. Ovens are crucial pieces of equipment for foundries to have; computer systems with on-line connection to airlines are probably equally important in travel agencies.


• 
  
  The availability and use of monitoring and measuring equipment (In 2008 edition, term "device" is replaced by "equipment") and the implementation of monitoring activities (see 7.6).


• 
  
  The implementation of release, delivery, and post-delivery activities. It should be clear how product is released and delivered to the customer.
  For example, delivery can be done by the organization itself or by a subcontractor. Or, the customer can pick up the product. In some cases there is a (written or verbal) requirement for the organization to perform additional activities after the delivery of the product to the customer. Examples of these activities are warranties, software support, and after-installation services. If there is a requirement to perform these servicing activities, then it should be clear how these activities are performed, and there should be procedures in place for critical activities (as per 7.1).
  

In 2008 edition, a note is added at the end of clause 7.2.1 which explains that post delivery activities include, for example, actions under warranty provisions, contractual obligations such as maintenance services, and supplementary services such as recycling and final disposal.

The same note will be applicable here while planning for production and service provision. It should include all the activities which are committed to customer (7.2.1, 7.2.2) and determined in quality management system (4.1).

Activities like recycling and final disposal is applicable to many industry sectors such as those dealing in plastics, silicon chips, computer waste, asbestos waste etc. By including recycling and final disposal in product requirements and statutory and regulatory requirements in the scope of standard, organizations will need to provide evidence of control on larger dimension of product realization processes.

Though clause 1.2 states that any requirement within clause 7 can be excluded, I do not see any situation where clause 7.1 can be excluded. Clause 7.1 is base clause and asks to determined product realization cycle considering requirements of clause 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 and 7.6.

Similarly clause 7.5.1, also, can not be excluded because 7.5.1 demands defining control of production and service provision. The requirements within 7.5.1 are to be applied if applicable to product or service

External Document Reference: Documentation Kit

Control of Production Processes