ISO 9001 Clause 8.6 Release of products and services
- wilkshireconsulting
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
In ISO 9001 8.6 - Release of products and services focuses on how organizations verify and confirm that their products and services meet specified requirements before they are released to customers. This clause prevents the delivery of defective or nonconforming products/services and ensures customer satisfaction.
In this blog post we will be discussing the following:
· Verification against requirements
· Evidence of conformity
· Authorization for release
· Why is 8.6 important?
International Organization for Standardization. ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems – Requirements
8.6 Release of products and services
The organization shall implement planned arrangements, at appropriate stages, to verify that the product and service requirements have been met.
The release of products and services to the customer shall not proceed until the planned arrangements have been satisfactorily completed, unless otherwise approved by a relevant authority and, as applicable, by the customer.
The organization shall retain documented information on the release of products and services. The documented information shall include:
a) evidence of conformity with the acceptance criteria;
b) traceability to the person(s) authorizing the release.
Verification against requirements
As for the verification against requirements, before a product or service is released, the organization must confirm that:
· All customer requirements are met – such as specifications and performance.
· All legal and regulatory requirements are fulfilled.
· Internal quality control checks and testing have been complicated.
· Any special approvals – such as regulatory approvals and certifications have been obtained.
An example of this would be if you are a medical device manufacturer you must conduct final functional tests and regulatory approvals before selling its products.
Evidence of conformity
The organization must maintain documented evidence (records) showing that the product or service has passed required inspections, tests, or reviews.
· Records must demonstrate that the product or service meets all the specifications.
· Documentation may include test results, checklists, inspection reports or quality certifications.
· The organization must retain these records for traceability.
An example of this would be if you are an automobile manufacturer you must keep test reports showing that each car has passed safety inspections and emission tests before the sale.
Authorization for release
· Designated personnel – Such as quality inspectors, engineers, or supervisors must formally approve the release of the product or service.
· The approval process should be clearly defined in the company’s procedures.
· If necessary, regulatory bodies or third parties may need to approve the release.
An example of this would be if you are an aerospace company, a certified quality inspector must sign off on an aircraft component before shipment.
Why is 8.6 important?
· Prevents defective or nonconforming products/services from reaching customers.
· Ensures legal and regulatory compliance.
· Reduces customer complaints and product recalls.
· Enhances customer trust and satisfaction.
In conclusion, implementing Clause 8.6 Release of products and services ensures that organizations that only high-quality products/services are delivered, reducing risks and enhancing brand reputation. In the next blog post we will be diving deeper into 8.7 - Control of nonconforming outputs.
Related blog posts –
ISO 9001 Clause 8.5 Production and service provision
ISO 9001 8.4 - Control of externally provided processes, products and services
ISO 9001 Clause 8.3 Design and development of products and services
ISO 9001 Clause 8.2 Requirements for Products and Services
ISO 9001 8.1 Operational planning and control
ISO 9001 - 8 Operation Clause 8: 8.1 – 8.7
ISO 9001 – 7 Support Overview Clause 7: 7.1 – 7.5
Contact:
Email: info@wilkshireconsulting.com
Phone: (248) 890-9283
Comments