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PCT International Search and Preliminary Examination Guidelines

PART VII  QUALITY

Chapter 21 Common Quality Framework for International Search and Preliminary Examination

1. Leadership and Policy

21.04  Top management of each Authority is responsible for the development and implementation of a Quality Management System (QMS). Top management shall establish a quality policy for the Authority and it shall specify responsibilities for the QMS and document these in an organizational chart.

21.05  Management shall ensure compatibility of its QMS with the requirements of these International Search and Preliminary Examination Guidelines.

21.06  Management shall ensure the effectiveness of the QMS and that the process of continual improvement progresses.

21.07  Management of the Authority shall communicate to its staff the importance of meeting treaty and regulatory requirements including those of this framework and of complying with the Authority’s QMS.

21.08  Top management of the Authority or delegated officers shall conduct management reviews and ensure the availability of appropriate resources. It shall regularly review quality objectives and ensure that they are communicated and understood by the relevant staff at the respective Authority.

21.09  Top management or delegated officers of the Authority will review its QMS at regular intervals. The minimum scope and frequency of such reviews are set out in Section 8, below.

21.10  Top Management should promote practices to ensure that risks and opportunities that can affect its QMS and the conformity of international search and examination are addressed.

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