- What is quality management?
- Quality management system (QMS)
- Quality management principles
- Total quality management
- ISO 9001 quality standard
- Quality management in health
We explain what quality management is and what a quality management system is. Total quality management and ISO 9001 standard.
What is quality management?
Quality management is a series of processes systematic that allow any organization to plan, execute and control the different activities that it carries out. This guarantees stability and consistency in performance to meet customer expectations.
Quality management varies according to each sector of business for which their own “standards” are established, that is, reference models to measure or assess the performance level of the organization.
Quality management system (QMS)
The quality management system of an organization is determined by all the elements that make it up in order to guarantee constant and stable performance, and avoid unexpected changes. The system also enables improvements to be made by incorporating new quality processes as needed.
Some examples of elements that make up the quality management system are:
- The structure of the institution. It is the distribution of personnel according to their functions and tasks, and is called Organization chart.
- Strategy planning. It is the set of activities that allows to achieve the objectives and the goals of the organization.
- The resources. They are everything that the organization needs to function, for example, the staff, the infrastructure, money and equipment.
- The procedures. They are the details, step by step, of how to carry out each activity or task. According to the complexity of the structure, the procedures may be in writing.
Quality management principles
The principles of quality management are intended to direct and guide the organization to successfully meet its objectives. Eight principles or issues to consider are highlighted:
- The client. Understanding their needs and meeting their expectations is the key to meeting the demands of the consumers and keep your fidelity.
- The leadership. The internal climate of the organization depends on the strategy of address or established command. The main leader can delegate tasks to other designated managers, depending on the type of structure.
- Staff participation. The motivation of the members of the organization generates a greater commitment, a better performance of their tasks and reduces uncertainty in times of crisis.
- The process-based approach. Guiding each area of the organization is part of the overall development of the institution to achieve the objectives efficiently.
- The system approach to management. Putting into action or putting into practice the procedures established by the organization generates interaction between each element of the quality management system.
- Continuous improvement. The evaluation of the quality management system (according to appropriate standards for each item) is useful to obtain improvements in the procedures.
- The fact-based approach to decision making. The analysis from data qualitative and quantitative, it serves to measure the performance of the organization.
- The relationship with suppliers. It is important to maintain a beneficial and reciprocal relationship between the organization and suppliers such as alliances, discounts, payment plans, etc.
Total quality management
In Japanese culture continuous improvement is called Kaizen.
Total quality management is a strategy originated in Japan in the 1950s, fueled by the practices of QA by William Edwards Deming, also called “Deming circles” (spiral of continuous improvement).
Total quality management is aimed at creating quality awareness in all organizational processes, not just following procedures. It looks at the organization globally, along with the persons who work on it.
The concept of "total quality" refers to a "continuous improvement" with the aim of achieving optimum quality in all areas of the institution: from philosophy, the culture, the strategy and the style of the organization, all people study, practice, participate and promote continuous improvement.
In Japanese culture, continuous improvement is called Kaizen (kai means "change" and zen means "good"). Total quality management implements the method Kaizen to generate improvements:
- In small actions.
- Without requiring large investments.
- With the participation of all members of the organization.
- To act and implement responses quickly.
In addition, the Kaizen philosophy avoids waste, waste or inefficiencies that may arise in the production system, such as:
- Production surpluses. Produce to order.
- Defects. Strengthens pre-sale quality control.
- Inventories. Organize, in detail, each resource of the organization.
- Transportation. Optimize trips and make several orders in the same shipment.
- Delays Strictly respect internal processes to avoid errors or delays in production.
- Unnecessary processes. If there is no objective or a clear reason, it is not invested in them.
ISO 9001 quality standard
The ISO 9001 quality standard is an international guideline that takes into account the activities of an institution without making a distinction from its field because it focuses on the satisfaction of the client and in the ability to provide products Y services that meet the established requirements.
It is the most used standard in the world and is regularly updated because it takes into account changes in the practices of organizations and technologies applied, which require a systematic review of the standard.
ISO is the International Organization for Standardization (from the English “International Organization for Standardization”), independent and non-governmental, which emerged in 1946 with the consensus of twenty-five countries and today has one hundred and sixty-four nations. The objective of the organization is to homogenize, through established norms, aspects such as security, the Health and the environment, in the production system worldwide.
Quality management in health
Quality management in health is regulated by the ISO 13485 standard for manufacturers of medical equipment and for providers of related services. It is based on the ISO 9001 standard, for customer satisfaction requirements and for continuous improvement, but it contains more appropriate modifications for the health sector. Organizations can be certified that:
- They manufacture sanitary products
- They distribute sanitary products
- They provide technical assistance services for medical devices
- They provide electromedical and clinical engineering services in hospitals
- Sterilization centers in hospitals