Glossary M

Deutsch: Wartung / Español: Mantenimiento / Português: Manutenção / Français: Maintenance / Italiano: Manutenzione

Maintenance in the context of quality management refers to the activities and processes aimed at preserving the quality and reliability of products, services, and systems by preventing degradation, failures, and defects. It encompasses various strategies and practices designed to ensure that equipment, tools, machinery, and systems operate efficiently, safely, and at their optimal performance level over their expected lifecycles.

Description

In quality management, maintenance plays a pivotal role in sustaining the operational effectiveness and longevity of assets while ensuring compliance with quality standards and regulations. It involves a systematic approach to planning, executing, and monitoring maintenance activities, which can include preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance. The primary goal is to minimize downtime, reduce operational costs, and maintain the quality of outputs.

Preventive maintenance, performed regularly based on a predetermined schedule, aims to prevent equipment failures before they occur. Predictive maintenance, on the other hand, relies on data and monitoring tools to predict equipment failures before they happen, allowing for timely interventions. Corrective maintenance is the repair or replacement of parts in response to equipment failures.

Application Areas

Maintenance in quality management finds application in virtually every industry where quality and reliability are critical, including:

• Manufacturing: Ensuring machinery and equipment are in optimal condition to produce high-quality products.
• Healthcare: Maintaining medical devices and equipment to guarantee patient safety and care quality.
• Information Technology: Updating and servicing software and hardware to prevent downtime and data loss.
• Transportation and Logistics: Keeping vehicles and infrastructure in good working order to ensure safe and reliable service.

Well-Known Examples

An example of effective maintenance in quality management is the aviation industry, where stringent maintenance procedures are followed to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft operations. These procedures are regulated by aviation authorities and include regular inspections, servicing, and repairs based on rigorous schedules and standards.

Treatment and Risks

The absence of an effective maintenance program can lead to increased operational risks, including equipment failure, production downtime, safety incidents, and non-compliance with quality standards. Consequently, organizations invest in maintenance management systems and technologies, such as Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and the Internet of Things (IoT), to streamline maintenance processes and enhance decision-making through real-time data analysis.

Similar Terms or Synonyms

Related terms to maintenance in the quality management context include upkeep, servicing, and care.

Summary

In quality management, maintenance is a critical function that ensures the continuous operation and efficiency of systems and equipment, thereby supporting the overall quality objectives of an organization. Through preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance strategies, companies can reduce the risk of failures, extend the lifespan of their assets, and maintain high levels of quality and customer satisfaction.

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Deutsch: Management / Español: Gestión / Português: Gestão / Français: Gestion / Italiano: Gestione

Management in the quality management context refers to the act, art, or manner of planning, controlling, and directing the processes and systems within an organization to ensure that the quality of products and services meets or exceeds the predefined standards. It involves coordinated activities to direct and control an organization with regard to quality.

Material Requirements Planning (MRP) aims to increase manufacturing efficiency by managing the

• production schedule,
• reducing inventory,
• increasing cash flow, and
• delivering products in a timely manner.

Deutsch: Maßnahme / Español: Medida / Português: Medida / Français: Mesure / Italiano: Misura

Measure in the quality management context refers to a quantifiable indicator used to assess, compare, and track the performance or quality of products, services, or processes within an organization. Measures are essential tools in quality management for setting objectives, making informed decisions, and implementing effective quality control and improvement strategies. They enable organizations to evaluate their performance against standards, benchmarks, or regulatory requirements, and to identify areas needing improvement or corrective action.

Deutsch: Messung / Español: Medición / Português: Medição / Français: Mesure / Italiano: Misurazione /

In the context of quality management, measurement refers to the process of quantifying a characteristic or attribute of a product, service, or process..

Deutsch: Messung / Français: Mesure physique / Italiano: Misurazione
Measurement (from Old French, mesurement) or measuring is the assignment of numbers to objects or events.
Any measurement can be judged by the following meta-measurement criteria values: level of measurement (which includes magnitude), dimensions (units), and uncertainty.

Deutsch: Medizinprodukt / Español: Dispositivo médico / Português: Dispositivo médico / Français: Dispositif médical / Italiano: Dispositivo medico

In the quality management context, a "medical device" refers to any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, appliance, implant, reagent for in vitro use, software, material, or other similar or related article intended by the manufacturer to be used, alone or in combination, for a medical purpose. Quality management for medical devices focuses on ensuring that products consistently meet regulatory requirements and customer needs, especially regarding safety and efficacy.

Deutsch: Medikation / Español: Medicación / Português: Medicação / Français: Médication / Italiano: Medicazione /

Medication in the quality management context refers to the process of ensuring the safety, efficacy, and compliance of pharmaceutical products, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, medical devices, and biologics. Quality management in medication encompasses various activities aimed at manufacturing, testing, packaging, labeling, and distributing medications while adhering to strict regulatory standards to protect public health.