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A Quality Management System (QMS) is a structured framework that an organization follows to ensure

that its products or services consistently meet customer and regulatory requirements while striving for
continuous improvement. The processes within a QMS are essential components that help an
organization achieve its quality objectives. Here's an overview of the typical processes in a QMS:

1. **Quality Policy and Objectives:** This process defines the organization's quality policy and sets
specific quality objectives and targets. It's a top-level process that provides direction for the entire QMS.

2. **Quality Planning:** In this process, the organization determines how to achieve its quality
objectives. It involves identifying risks, resources, and necessary actions to meet those objectives.

3. **Document Control:** This process manages the creation, approval, distribution, and control of
documents and records essential to the QMS, including policies, procedures, and work instructions.

4. **Risk Management:** Organizations assess and manage risks to quality, ensuring that potential
issues are identified and addressed to prevent quality problems.

5. **Resource Management:** This process involves managing the resources (human, infrastructure,
and equipment) necessary for the QMS's effectiveness.

6. **Product/Service Design and Development:** Organizations define and develop products or


services, considering quality requirements and customer needs, and ensuring that quality is built in from
the beginning.

7. **Purchasing and Supplier Management:** This process includes selecting and evaluating suppliers,
ensuring they meet quality standards, and monitoring their performance.

8. **Production/Service Delivery:** This core process covers the actual creation or delivery of products
or services while adhering to defined quality standards.

9. **Measurement and Monitoring:** Organizations continuously monitor and measure their


performance against quality objectives and requirements, using various methods and tools.
10. **Non-conformance and Corrective Action:** When issues or non-conformities are identified, this
process helps investigate the root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrences.

11. **Internal Auditing:** Internal audits ensure that the QMS is functioning as intended and provides
objective feedback for improvement.

12. **Management Review:** Top management reviews the QMS's performance, assesses its suitability,
adequacy, and effectiveness, and makes decisions regarding improvement.

13. **Customer Feedback and Satisfaction:** This process collects and analyzes customer feedback to
gauge satisfaction and drive improvements.

14. **Continuous Improvement:** This is an overarching process in a QMS, where organizations


continually identify opportunities for improvement and implement changes to enhance the system.

15. **Training and Competence:** Ensuring that employees have the necessary skills and competence
to perform their roles effectively is vital for maintaining quality.

16. **Control of Nonconforming Products/Services:** When a product or service does not meet the
defined quality standards, this process outlines how it is controlled and dispositioned.

17. **Records Management:** This process is responsible for the creation, maintenance, and disposition
of quality records.

18. **Change Control:** Managing changes to the QMS and its associated processes is crucial to ensure
that changes do not negatively impact quality.

These processes are often documented and interconnected within a QMS to create a coherent quality
management framework. Implementing and maintaining a QMS is essential for organizations to
consistently deliver high-quality products or services, meet customer expectations, and comply with
relevant quality standards and regulations. The specific processes and their details can vary depending
on the industry, organization size, and the quality standards they need to adhere to.

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