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.
Description
Quality management is not limited to product or service quality, but also involves the means to achieve it. Management in this context therefore includes strategic planning, resource allocation, and decision-making activities aimed at achieving quality objectives. It includes the establishment of a quality policy and quality objectives, planning, quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement within the framework of a quality management system.
Application Areas
Management within the context of quality management is applied through various practices and processes:
- Quality Planning: Identifying which quality standards are relevant to the project and determining how to satisfy them.
- Quality Assurance: Applying planned, systematic quality activities to ensure that the project employs all processes needed to meet requirements.
- Quality Control: Monitoring specific project results to determine if they comply with relevant quality standards and identifying ways to eliminate causes of unsatisfactory performance.
- Quality Improvement: Continuous improvement of the quality of products, services, and processes, using methodologies like Six Sigma, Lean Management, and Total Quality Management (TQM).
Well-Known Examples
- ISO 9001: One of the most widely recognized quality management system standards, which outlines the criteria for an organization’s quality management system and is the basis for several quality audits.
- Toyota Production System (TPS): Renowned for its focus on quality and efficiency, TPS is often studied as a model of quality management and continuous improvement.
- Six Sigma: A set of techniques and tools for process improvement, introduced by Bill Smith while working at Motorola in 1986, and further popularized by General Electric.
Treatment and Risks
Implementing quality management involves consideration of several factors:
- Cultural Change: Organizations often need to undergo significant cultural changes to truly embed quality into their daily operations and ethos.
- Resource Allocation: Adequate resources must be allocated to quality management activities, including training, tools, and time, which can be costly.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Effective management requires the engagement of all stakeholders, including employees, suppliers, and customers, to ensure that quality goals are met across all touchpoints.
- Compliance and Standards: Adherence to international standards and regulations can be demanding but is critical for managing quality effectively.
Similar Terms
- Continuous Improvement (Kaizen): A strategy where employees at all levels of a company work together proactively to achieve regular, incremental improvements to the manufacturing process.
- Total Quality Management (TQM): A management approach to long–term success through customer satisfaction, which integrates all members of an organization in improving processes, products, services, and the culture in which they work.
Summary
In the context of quality management, management is crucial for orchestrating all activities and resources of an organization to enhance and safeguard the quality of products or services. It encompasses a wide range of functions and processes aimed at achieving quality excellence, from planning and implementation to monitoring and improvement. This holistic approach ensures that quality is not only maintained but continuously enhanced, aligning with both customer expectations and regulatory standards.
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