Designing a Quality Management System Based on Quality Management Rules of Practice

March 5, 2010

There are 8 quality management beliefs upon which a quality management system should be based. These beliefs can be employed by senior management as a framework to lead their set-ups towards improved performance. The eight quality management beliefs are outlined in ISO 9000:2005, Quality management systems basics and vocabulary. The 8 guidelines are buyer focus, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system approach to management, unremitting improvement, factual approach to decision-making and mutually advantageous supplier relationships.

A quality management system can be defined as the organisational structure, responsibilities, procedures, processes and resources for implementing quality management including all activities which contribute to quality. This means that every process and activity is a part of the quality management system. In building a quality management system an organisation should identify the processes needed for quality management, providing and manage resources and implement procedures to ensure these processes, including the dealings between them, are efficient and continually improved.

In creating the quality management system a quality manager should be appointed who, without regard for their other responsibilities, must be answerable for making certain that the quality management system is implemented and maintained, reporting to management on the way the quality management system works and how effective it is, and coordinating awareness of the quality management system.

Senior management should build a quality policy, quality objectives and plans then ensure resources are available to implement and maintain the system. It is important to ensure there is effective communication, ensure all employees are aware of the signification of the system and the necessity to meet its requirements. Organisational responsibilities, authorities and reporting relationships should be obviously outlined and communicated. Senior management should conduct regular management reviews of the usefulness of the system and take actions to get better. Contracts with 3rd parties should be documented, reviewed and mutually agreed.

Documents to support the quality management system should include a quality manual and those documents needed to ensure the centres processes are pencilled in and operate effectively and records to demonstrate compliance.

The quality policy should express the general objectives of the organisation related to quality and provide an outline for setting quality objectives and planning. The quality policy should include a dedication to providing a service that meets customer needs and continually improving the efficacy of the quality management system. The quality policy should be signed and issued by the most senior manager within the organisation then communicated, understood and available across the organisation.

The organisation should build documented quality objectives based on the quality policy including those objectives wanted to meet client needs and needs. The objectives should be quantifiable and consistent with the quality policy and be reviewed frequently. Senior management should establish plans to achieve and maintain the quality objectives. The plans should be reviewed regularly.

The subsequent step is for quality manual to be established and include a quick description of the organisation, the scope of its products / services, the quality policy, an organisation chart defining accountability and reporting relationships and a primer about the systems and the paperwork established for the quality management system to be useful.

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