Subclause 6.2.2 of ISO 9001 is ubiquitously referred to as the training clause. That unfortunately narrows the focus to only one aspect of the requirement. The subclause is situated in the section of the standard that relates to provision of resources. It doesn’t simply require that training be provided; it requires that the human resource that has been provided have the necessary competence for the work to be done.

The organization doesn’t train everyone it employs. For some positions, one must recruit individuals with the requisite training. More precisely, some of them come with advanced degrees in technical fields. If you need a chemist, you’d probably go looking for a person with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. If you’re in need of a software engineer, you won’t grab the first warm body that comes through the door and assume that he or she can do the work or that, alternately, you will have to provide training in basic computer science. The person must provide evidence of competence in the form of some combination of work experience and education.

Also, things change over time. New technologies emerge. The company expands its product offerings. The organization creates new middle-management positions requiring additional skills. Minimum competencies change.

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