Thursday, 26 December 2013

Basics Relating To Quality Management Systems

By Marcia Marks


Quality management systems, QMS are essential in the day to day operation of virtually any organisation. Without a QMS it will not be possible to appreciate growth with an organisation. Put simply, a QMS is set of policies, policies, manuals, the structure and responsibilities of an organisation together with its resources among others. There have been numerous improvements in the manner in which QMS are used. Today, unlike in the past, there is a lot of emphasis placed on team dynamics and cooperation.

To attain certification and compliance, an organisation needs to embrace a key element, specifically a QMS process. Order processing, internal audit, calibration, production planning and preventive and corrective action are some of the examples of such processes. ISO 9000, one of the most widely used tools focuses on integration, sustainability and quality. Another major system, Natural Step, focuses on documentation, systematic thinking, diagnostic discipline and transparency to minimise organisational problems.

QMS play a very vital role in ensuring that medical equipment is properly functioning. This guarantees safety and efficacy when dealing with different aspects of patient care. Each manufacturer needs to come up with their QMS that can be used to ensure that what they manufacture is properly checked and tested before being sold. The buyers of this equipment should also have their own systems that will be used to test the equipment as it is brought in. Apart from equipment testing, the other important aspect of validation is personnel training.

Before designing a QMS the business needs to understand its environment. There is need to know what is expected of the business by the clients. The main objective of the process should be to fully meet the client expectations. The benchmark is to set the standards that are required by the clientele. Whenever the consumer demands change, the business is supposed to readjust accordingly.

Proper leadership ensures that there is unity of purpose. A good leader is one who not only states the direction that should be taken by an organisation but also participates actively by offering a good example. Communication should be clearly both vertically and horizontally between employees, customers, financiers and suppliers.

The process should always be considered as a whole from beginning to end. This will ensure that there is accountability and greater responsibility both at individual and organization in the past. The efficiency of QMS implementation is also easy to asses when there is a proper process in place.

One of the most effective management approaches to use is the system approach. This approach requires proper identification and understanding of all the components of a given system. It is an approach that is associated with high levels of efficacy, consistency and effectiveness. There is continuous improvement through constant evaluation and measurement.

Data and information in an organisation need to be not only accessible but also accurate and reliable. The process of ensuring that this happens involves wise decision making to ensure that correct methods are used. As a result, good Quality Management Systems need to employ a thorough approach in analysis of data and information. In summary, the main elements of a QMS include quality policy, objectives, manual and human and natural resources.




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