Corporate report

Dstl Quality Policy

Updated 9 August 2023

1. Purpose

In support of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl’s) strategy and to ensure that Dstl products, services and advice consistently meet customer expectations, Dstl operates a certified management system (MS). Dstl’s MS comprises policies and processes which are both statements of leadership intent and a system of key activities that fulfil business needs.

This policy sets out the Executive’s commitment to the standards of quality that support the delivery of our strategy and enable us to put the customer at the heart of our efforts.

The performance of our strategy is monitored and measured enabling us to measure overall business performance to ensure we achieve our purpose in an effective and efficient manner; which also provides the opportunity to identify and implement improvements.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all aspects of our business, across all sites, and is communicated to staff, contractors, suppliers and partners through our MS and website, thus enabling everyone to comply with our quality expectations.

For Dstl employees, it should be read in conjunction with Dstl’s Science and Technology (S&T) Technical Quality Policy, which is specific to the required technical quality of S&T outputs.

2.1 Statement

It is Dstl’s policy to:

1. Consistently meet the needs of our stakeholders, through maintenance of an ISO 9001 certified system compliant with JSP 940, that outlines the policies and processes required to fulfil business requirements.
2. Engage and communicate with interested parties, ensuring we understand their requirements and challenges in order to meet their current and future needs, while seeking feedback to enhance customer satisfaction to improve the quality of our products, services and advice.
3. Comply with all legal, statutory, regulatory and ethical requirements and standards relevant to our business and those of our stakeholders.
4. Ensure that the skills and resources needed to fulfil business requirements are available, maintained and developed.
5. Review the effectiveness of our MS to maintain and improve, as required, our systems, processes and the quality of our products and services.
6. Ensure that this policy and associated processes are communicated and accessible to all employees, who are empowered to improve ineffective practices.

Responsibilities

The Chief Executive and Executive Team are responsible for:

• Demonstrable leadership and commitment in support of this policy and the MS
• Ensuring that performance measures are established, measured and compatible with our strategy
• Reviewing the effectiveness of the MS in order to improve the customers’ overall experience

Leadership roles are responsible for:

• Demonstrating leadership and commitment to reflect this policy
• Implementing and enforcing this policy and the requirements of the MS
• Ensuring that all relevant parties who are required to comply with this policy understand its requirements and are competent and able to conduct business activities
• Designing, publishing and reviewing processes that promote effective working practices in accordance with this policy
• Taking accountability for the effectiveness of the processes under their direction and how they contribute to the success of Dstl
• Empowering staff to challenge ineffective and inefficient practices in consultation with the process owner to promote improvement

Everyone is responsible for:

• Promoting awareness and championing the daily application of quality across the business
• Conducting activities in accordance with policies and processes
• Recognising and communicating inefficient / ineffective activities and helping to develop / implement better ways of working
• Challenging any behaviours or practices that fall short of the expectations of this policy
• Reporting any breaches of this policy to appropriate line management

The Policy Owner/Sponsor is the Chief Executive.