To evaluate compliance with ISO 9001:2015 section 5.2.1, parts (c) and (d), focus on assessing how your quality policy reflects commitments to satisfying applicable requirements and continual improvement. This evaluation will ensure the policy guides your quality management system (QMS) effectively.

1. Commitment to Satisfying Applicable Requirements (Part c):

First, examine your quality policy for explicit commitments to meeting applicable requirements. This includes customer requirements, regulatory obligations, and any industry-specific standards relevant to your operations. Your policy should clearly articulate these commitments, indicating that your organization prioritizes compliance and customer satisfaction.

Review how well this commitment is integrated into your operational practices. Check if there are documented procedures showing how requirements are identified, reviewed, and incorporated into your processes. Assess the awareness level across your organization: do employees understand not only the importance of meeting these requirements but also their roles in achieving compliance? This involves training, communication, and systematic monitoring of compliance practices.

2. Commitment to Continual Improvement (Part d):

Next, evaluate your quality policy for statements that demonstrate a commitment to the continual improvement of the QMS. This commitment should be a declared intention in the policy, highlighting that the organization strives not only to maintain the current standards but to improve continuously.

Investigate how this commitment translates into actionable strategies within your QMS. Look for evidence of processes that support continuous improvement, such as regular audits, performance reviews, and feedback loops. These should be designed to identify opportunities for improvement and drive enhancements in quality and efficiency. Make sure there are mechanisms for capturing lessons learned and systematically applying them to process improvements.

### Verification and Implementation:

Ensure that these commitments are not merely stated but are actioned within the QMS. Verify that there are records or evidence of meetings, reviews, and strategic discussions where these commitments are addressed and strategies developed. This could include management reviews, customer feedback sessions, and process improvement initiatives.

Finally, assess how well the quality policy and its commitments are communicated throughout your organization. It’s crucial that all employees understand the importance of and are engaged in fulfilling these commitments. This may involve training sessions, regular updates, and visible leadership advocacy for the policy.

By methodically evaluating these areas, you can determine whether your current quality policy satisfies ISO 9001:2015 requirements regarding commitments to meeting applicable requirements and continual improvement. Any gaps identified should be addressed with targeted actions to enhance the policy’s effectiveness and integration into the overall strategic direction and operational practices of your business.