Deutsch: Governance / Español: Gobernanza / Português: Governança / Français: Gouvernance / Italiano: Governance
In the quality management context, "Governance" refers to the system of rules, practices, and processes by which an organization ensures that its quality management system (QMS) is effectively implemented and continuously improved. Governance involves oversight, accountability, and the direction of the organization’s quality policies and objectives to ensure they are aligned with the overall business strategy and meet the requirements of customers and other stakeholders.
Description
Quality governance encompasses the roles, responsibilities, and relationships among the various participants in the organization (including management, employees, suppliers, and customers) to provide a framework that promotes a culture of quality. It ensures that quality objectives are set, performance is monitored, and improvements are implemented in a systematic manner.
Application Areas
- Policy and Strategy Development: Establishing quality policies and strategies that are coherent with the organization’s mission and objectives.
- Performance Measurement: Implementing key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the QMS.
- Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with quality processes and outputs.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Ensuring that the needs and expectations of customers and other stakeholders are understood and met.
Well-Known Examples
- ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems: A widely recognized standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system, emphasizing the importance of governance in achieving consistent quality.
- Total Quality Management (TQM): An approach to long-term success that focuses on continuous improvement and involves all members of an organization in improving processes, products, services, and culture.
Summary
Governance in quality management is a critical aspect that ensures an organization’s QMS is aligned with its strategic goals and effectively addresses the quality expectations of its products and services. Through strong governance, organizations can achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage.
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