Setting up an ISO quality system
Do you want to optimize your company’s organizational structure in line with ISO 9001 criteria? Does the idea of building a Quality Management System on solid foundations interest you? Understand the importance of implementing a QMS, and choose a high-performance management tool to implement an irreproachable quality policy.
What is the purpose of a quality management system?
How do you thrive in an increasingly competitive environment? While some organizations are led by inspirational leaders, most rely on the strength of the majority to thrive. Yet there’s one element that’s essential to sustainable, genuine prosperity, and it’s as relevant to small local businesses as it is to multinationals: quality.
That’s why optimal quality management is now a prerequisite for the success of any company. In an age of innovation and rapidly changing expectations, a commitment to continuous improvement is crucial to staying competitive. And, to achieve this ambition, reliable quality management systems are essential.
A high-performance quality management system or QMS is essential if we are to consistently meet customer expectations and deliver goods and services while minimizing waste. In a highly competitive international business environment, the establishment of a QMS is the fundamental pillar of long-term success.
What is a quality management system?
A quality management system is a set of precisely defined procedures and responsibilities to ensure the smooth running of your business. Each organization will tailor its QMS to its environment, relying on formalized policies, processes and operations to maximize customer satisfaction. A QMS guides organizations towards the establishment of standardized and improved quality controls in production, service provision and other essential activities.
Here are the major benefits of a quality management system:
- Uniform, regulated processes and results;
- Fewer errors and improved operating performance;
- Increased customer satisfaction with first-class goods and services;
- Ongoing assessment and improvement of the company’s activities.
The different types of quality management systems
The standards on which a QMS is based may be national or international. The variants of this system correspond to various contexts and requirements, and it is possible for the entities concerned to favor a single approach or a combination of QMSs. The most frequently encountered are listed below:
Standardized systems
They establish criteria for recognized standards, conventions and established practices, such as certification to ISO standards. In the case of ISO 9001, this standard specifies the conditions for an integral QMS and offers recommendations to entities wishing to deploy or optimize their quality management policy.
Total quality management (TQM)
TQM is a management approach focused on customer satisfaction through the active involvement of every employee. Its aim is to promote continuous quality improvement at every level and in every area of the organization.
Lean management
Any form of inefficiency can result in waste. Lean management seeks to maximize customer value by minimizing waste, using tools such as value stream mapping to help fine-tune company procedures for maximum performance.
Six Sigma
Achieving perfection is virtually impossible, but it is possible to strive for it. Six Sigma uses analytical methods to deliver near-perfect goods and services, with a margin of error of 3.4 per million opportunities. It’s not perfect, but it’s close.
Benefits of using a quality management system
There are several reasons why a QMS is necessary. Standardized procedures lead to improvements in efficiency and productivity, as well as a reduction in duplication and waste. Preventing anomalies helps reduce the cost of correction and disposal.
A QMS audit helps to identify potential problems before they arise, thereby significantly reducing risk. What’s more, a quality management system helps streamline case management. It provides better documentation, traceability and accountability. It helps to comply with regulations. Also, a QMS can be used to solve problems, using performance indicators and audits to identify weaknesses, and so put in place a sure-fire solution for improvement.
The quest for quality leads to satisfied, loyal customers who become informal brand promoters in their network. They then generate business opportunities and help expand market share. Companies with an effective QMS are more likely to achieve their business ambitions, and this translates into loyal customers thanks to a seamless experience.
Why is a quality management system so important?
Every company aspires to excellence, insofar as the value of a good or service lies in what the consumer finds in it, and the source of his or her decision to pay for it. Quality management is key to delivering an outstanding experience, which in turn impacts an organization’s development and efficiency. Here are 6 excellent reasons why investing in a quality management system is essential:
Brand awareness
Reputation is priceless. A brand is far more likely to be recognized internationally when a company exceeds quality standards.
Customer loyalty
Ensuring that customer needs and expectations are continually met, and even exceeded, fosters customer loyalty. By maintaining or even surpassing high standards, customers have no reason to turn elsewhere.
Corporate sustainability
Maintaining excellence ensures and preserves a loyal customer base. Operating sustainably, by reducing waste, is the ideal way to grow and ensure the long-term future of a company.
Compliance
Compliance with regulatory safety and quality standards is essential, and this is facilitated in a transparent way by a QMS.
Competitive advantage
High-quality goods and services give organizations a competitive edge in a complex environment.
Employee commitment
When employees are actively involved in quality improvement, they are more committed and productive.
What are the steps involved in setting up a quality management system?
Setting up an effective QMS is a gradual process, requiring careful planning and implementation. The key steps to success for an organization undertaking the establishment of a quality management system are as follows:
- Management buy-in: the introduction of a QMS requires harmonization at management level.
- Process documentation: complete identification and documentation of procedures linked to existing quality processes is essential.
- Determining indicators: performance monitoring indicators need to be defined to ensure that QMS criteria are being met.
- Training: all staff must receive initial and ongoing training to understand and commit to the quality management system.
- Audits: regular internal checks on processes are essential to confirm compliance and effective application.
- System performance evaluation: periodic evaluation of the system is essential if any necessary modifications are to be made.
Although the above steps provide a general overview, implementing and maintaining a high-performance QMS requires significant effort and commitment from all corporate functions.