What is a Quality Management System (QMS)

When we talk about quality there are different terms that are not always clear. It is necessary to surround yourself with advisors who help you implement the quality management system. For example, a term that is often asked is quality management.

Definition of Quality Management

Quality management is a set of actions and tools that aim to avoid possible errors or deviations in the production process and in the products or services obtained through it. So, first of all, we have to emphasize that we do not want to identify errors when they have already occurred, but that they should be avoided before they occur.

Hence its importance within the management system of an organization. It is useless to correct mistakes continuously, if we do not learn from them and try to anticipate their appearance.

Quality management brings together a set of actions and procedures that try to guarantee the quality, not of the products obtained in themselves but of the process by which these products are obtained.

Once we are clear about the concept of quality management, another important question arises. How is adequate quality management carried out in an organization?

For this reason, we will have to implement a quality management system with sufficient rigor so that we can continuously evaluate our production process, so that we not only identify deviations, but that we can anticipate them.

This can only be achieved with periodic audits that allow adequate checks to be made for possible deviations. And, especially with tools that facilitate the implementation of the quality management system being satisfactory and efficient.

The control process developed by quality management entails important document management and the involvement of all managers and managers who participate in one or another phase of the production process. Therefore, internal communication is essential so that all the people involved know at all times all possible deviations and errors that may occur.

Hence the importance of a management software that allows to develop a fluid communication, avoiding duplication and saving the company time and money.

In the production process, it is not only necessary to control in a timely manner the errors and deviations that arise in the process, but it is also essential to learn from them to get ahead, thus implementing a quality-based management system, which It has greater benefits for the organization, derived among other things, from a reduction in monetary and time costs.

Taking into account the definition of quality, we can make distinctions between :

  • Quality Control, through an inspection or certain examinations the properties of the product are verified so that it is satisfactory.
  • Quality Management, defines the guidelines to be followed in terms of a company’s quality policy, with planning, resources or process competencies.

A quality management system includes a series of norms and standards that must be met. The ISO 9001 standard is responsible for establishing the requirements to certify that an organization has a quality system in accordance with the standards contemplated.

With these norms all the procedures that must be carried out during the productive activity of the company are established, defining the organizational structure, the procedures to be performed or the resources that must be used.

The ultimate goal is to meet the quality standards set to ensure that the final result will be the best for our customers, while simplifying all processes during production.

What does a quality management system look for?

  • Customer Satisfaction: The purpose of implementing a quality management system is to be able to meet customer expectations.
  • Obtaining New Customers: Compliance with the standards that a quality management system determines, gives security to potential customers.
  • Improvement in the Organization of the company’s processes: The processes that are carried out in the productive activity follow standards that ensure that the standards that make it an optimized process are being met.
  • Differentiation of Competition: A company that is certified will stand out above its competition. The fact of having a certified quality management system projects a positive image before potential customers that makes the company prevail over others.
  • Cost Reduction without affecting the quality: It is possible to improve the quality of a product or service without the quality of it being affected.
  • Compliance with public administration requirements: Having the certification in the ISO standards is a requirement to enter any contest of the Public Administration without which you cannot opt ​​to participate in it.
  • Compliance with requirements arising from membership in a group: In some companies, the majority multinationals, the certification of the quality management system is an indispensable requirement to be part of the group and ensure that no component lowers its guard in terms of quality of product or service.

ISO 9001 Software

As we have seen during the article, the context of the organization is an element to take into account in the implementation of the new version of the ISO 9001 standard. We can also appreciate that sometimes problems can be generated when documenting the context, processes or other elements. Therefore, we recommend the ISOTools Excellence Software, which will allow you to delete all physical documents and execute all your procedures simply and easily from any device.