Lecture 3: Quality Management Systems PDF

**Lecture 3: Quality Management Systems** In this lecture we explore the reasons why global businesses need to have in place a quality management system and the different systems that businesses can incorporate into their operations. By the end of this lecture you should to be able to: - Define...

**Lecture 3: Quality Management Systems** In this lecture we explore the reasons why global businesses need to have in place a quality management system and the different systems that businesses can incorporate into their operations. By the end of this lecture you should to be able to: - Define the business concept of quality management - Explain why it is important that businesses have a quality management system - Explain the different types of quality management systems **Defining Quality Management** **Quality management** is the generic term for a systematic approach to ensuring that a business is maximising the benefit it gains from the use of resources in the production process. **Quality Control versus Quality Assurance** Quality control is a part of an overall quality assurance system. By operating a quality assurance system, a business should be able to reduce the need for a quality control process, or at least, reduce the quantity of defective products found during the quality control checks. **Why is having a Quality Management System Important?** Typically, Quality Control and Quality Assurance focus on current practices within the business -- looking at what the business is doing at the present point of time. However, if the business is to be economically sustainable in the future it must be able to plan for future improvements. In Lecture 1 we looked at the importance for businesses of being innovative. One of the ideas we explored was that for innovation to be successful it had to be planned for and not left up to luck or chance. The same idea can be applied to quality management. Successful businesses will have a plan for ensuring that not only are current practices focussed on ensuring quality but also any future actions will either improve quality or at least not reduce quality. This requires a systematic approach. Having a systematic approach to quality management: - Increases the chance that actions taken will improve the operations of the business or its reputation - Reduce the chance that future actions taken will harm the operations of the business or its reputation - Provides a focus for all stakeholders in the business (shareholders, managers, employees) - Ensures resources are directed to actions that improve quality **Quality Management Systems** Typically, Quality Control and Quality Assurance focus on current practices within the business -- looking at what the business is doing at the present point of time. However, if the business is to be economically sustainable in the future it must be able to plan for future improvements. Again, this requires a systematic approach.  All three of these approaches to quality management involve participation by all staff in the organisation. Staff are encouraged to participate in developing processes and systems for maintaining quality. In both the Kaizen and TQM systems workers are grouped in teams called "Quality Circles". These groups meet regularly to discuss current practices and to explore ways of improving. With Kaizen these tend to be small, low cost improvements whereas with TQM there can also be suggestions for strategic or long-term changes.