In this tool the appointment of a Quality Project Team is chosen as a strategy to tackle the amount of work that needs to be done. This team is the main coordinating body for implementing the quality management system. It will support the management in carrying out the activities described in this tool.

The chair of the Quality Project Team will be appointed as the Quality Focal Point of the laboratory. This can be considered as a Quality Officer only with less responsibilities and tasks (the "real" Quality Officer will be appointed in phase 2). The Quality Focal Point will closely follow correct implementation of this tool. His/her functions are:

• Coordination function: ensuring correct and timely execution of activities of the tool by team members.
• Advisory function: regularly report to the Laboratory Manager on the progress of implementing the quality management system, and cooperate with the Laboratory Manager where necessary in the execution of activities in which there are specific tasks for the laboratory manager.
• Information function: laboratory staff can turn to this person for more information on quality management aspects. The other way around is also possible: the Quality Focal Point can provide information to staff members regarding the quality management system.

The tasks and responsibilities of Quality Project Team members are:

• Execution of activities: Carry out activities/tasks assigned to them by the Quality Focal Person. Involve other staff members of the laboratory in carrying out these activities. For example: when a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Recording and Reporting of Results needs to be written, the team member should closely cooperate with a data clerk to write an SOP.
• Advising/reporting: the team member must report to the Quality Project Team about the status of the activities assigned to him/her.
• Planning: The team member must actively participate in the coordination of the quality management system implementation and should assist in the planning of activities during the team meetings.

This team will have meetings at least twice per month to discuss progress and find solutions to problems encountered. The Laboratory Manager must participate in these meetings but the meetings are chaired by the Quality Focal Point. Minutes of these meetings are made by one member of the Quality Project Team (not the Quality Focal Person since he/she has to chair the meetings). These minutes must be distributed to all members of the project team and the Laboratory Manager and they must be archived (i.e. they serve as proof that the meetings were held and they serve as tool to monitor progress).