Assignment 15"Quality Management"

 

1.    What is Quality Management?

Quality management is a concept that includes the supervision and verification of procedures and processes to achieve the required and previously established quality standards.

“Quality management is the act of overseeing different activities and tasks within an organization to ensure that products and services offered, as well as the means used to provide them, are consistent. It helps to achieve and maintain a desired level of quality within the organization.” (Corporate Finance Institute, 2020)

2.    What is the objective of Quality Management?

The objective of quality management is to improve processes, products and services; derived from the joint work of the interested parties; to achieve customer satisfaction and the fulfillment of objectives.

3.    Which are the key components of Quality management? Describe in detail each one.

There are four main components in a Quality Management System.

·         Quality Planning

It’s the process in which the manager identifies the standards of quality of the project and the goals. In this step, the strategies to meet the standards, the procedures and the requirements are traced.

In planning it’s relevant to consider the expectations, the requirements and the methods of evaluation.

·         Quality Control

This component is all about testing the strategies and what was laid out in the planning stage to make sure they are obtainable, and to correct them if there are mistakes.

·         Quality Assurance

The quality assurance involves ensuring that the processes are being adequately performed. 

“Quality Assurance covers the whole project lifecycle and is not concentrated on any particular phase. Involved pre-planned and regular reviews to verify that work is being carried out consistently in accordance with defined procedures”. (Naybour, 2020)

·         Quality Improvement

It’s the performance analysis and detection of improvement opportunities. Some standards that can be used to measure performance are Total Quality Management and Six Sigma.

 

 

4.    Describe what Quality Management involves. (process)

The process involves the establishment of goals and objectives, the establishment of instruments to measure the objectives according to standards, the analysis of processes, corrections and improvements.

 

“A Quality Management Process is a set of procedures that are followed to ensure that the deliverables produced by a team are "fit for purpose". The start of the Quality Management Process involves setting quality targets, which are agreed with the customer. A "Quality Assurance Process" and "Quality Control Process" are then undertaken, to measure and report the actual quality of deliverables. As part of the Quality Management Process, any quality issues are identified and resolved quickly.” (Quality Management Process, n.d.)

5.    What does “Quality Improvement Methods” refer to? Explain in detail.

They are tools and techniques that act as a guidance to make quality improvements in processes, products and services.

Some of the most commonly used are:

·         Plan do study act: Introduce and test potential quality improvements on a small scale.

·         Model for improvement: Decide upon, test and refine quality improvements.

·         Six sigma: Eliminate waste and redirect resources for quality and efficiency.

·         Performance benchmarking: Drive quality improvement through performance targets.

·         Communication tools

6.    What are the Quality Management principles that the International Standard for Quality Management adopt? Write a description of each.

·         Customer Focus

This refers to the objective of satisfying customers' needs, gaining their loyalty, identifying future customers, and, in this way, increasing the organization's revenues.

·         Leadership

Leadership implies the unity of workers, which translates into the development of potential, creation of organizational culture, increase in productivity and achievement of objectives.

·         Engagement of People

Motivating employees, involving them in decision making and recognizing their achievements, makes them more committed to their work, enhances their skills, increases their confidence and makes them more capable in carrying out their work activities.

·         Process approach

It’s about achieving effectiveness and efficiency in organizational processes.  It implies understanding that process improvement leads to cost reduction, continuous improvement and higher productivity.

·         Continuous improvement

Continuous improvement leads to higher performance, greater adaptability, and organizational flexibility.

·         Evidence-based decision making

Evidence-based decision making helps to understand the causes and possible consequences of the actions taken by the company. In this way, companies broaden their outlook and can make better decisions.

·         Relationship management

When stakeholders create mutually beneficial relationships and the organization manages them properly, consistent business success is more likely to be achieved.

7.    What are the benefits of Quality Management?

·         Increases customer satisfaction.

·         Continuous improvement of company processes, products and systems.

·         Helps companies improve in activities related to the production of goods and services.

·         Allows companies to expand into new markets.

·         Integration of new employees.

·         More efficient and fluid management of processes and company growth.

·         Better coordination of processes between the departments of a company.

 

 

REFERENCES

A guide to quality improvement methods. (2015, June). Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership. https://nhfd.co.uk/20/hipfracturer.nsf/b83841ab51769e1d802581a4005978ed/205c2976b502ffc2802581ee0053a23f/$FILE/HQIP%20guide%20to%20QI%202017.pdf

Corporate Finance Institute. (2020, July 8). Quality Management. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/strategy/quality-management/

D. (2018, February 8). The Four Main Components of A Quality Management System. Docxellent. https://info.docxellent.com/blog/main-components-quality-management

Naybour, P. (2020, July 4). Describe the four main components of a quality management process. Parallel Project Training. https://www.parallelprojecttraining.com/blog/describe-the-four-main-components-of-a-quality-management-process/

Quality Management Process. (n.d.). Method123. https://www.method123.com/quality-management.php