Explanation
Top management looks at an overview of how the management system performs: audit results, KPIs and objectives, customer satisfaction, open actions, incidents and changes in context and risks. Based on that, it decides on improvements, objectives and the resources needed.
A management review usually takes place at least once a year and is recorded, with decisions, owners and deadlines. There is often a fixed agenda and a report prepared by the QHSE coordinator. The decisions become actions and are picked up again at the next review.
It is not a formality for the auditor. Standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 expect the top of the organisation to be involved and to steer. A management review is different from an internal audit: the audit checks the system, management uses the results to steer.
Example from practice
The director of a construction company discusses the audit results, the number of reported near misses and customer feedback with the QHSE coordinator once a year. They decide to free up budget for training and to sharpen an objective.
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