A
quality management system (QMS) is a collection of business processes focused
on consistently meeting customer requirements and enhancing their satisfaction.
It is aligned with an organization's purpose and strategic direction
(ISO9001:2015). ISO 9001 implemented, to its full potential, becomes an invaluable
asset to your organization. A management system is the framework of processes
and procedures used to ensure that an organization can fulfill all tasks
required to achieve its objectives. ISO 9001 helps organizations ensure their
customers consistently receive high quality products and services, which in
turn brings many benefits, including satisfied customers, management, and
employees. As an organisation, you can always choose to work in accordance with
the ISO 9001 standard, but you can also choose to be certified by an
independent party (such as a certification body). Quality management is the act
of managing all activities and functions needed to maintain a consistent level
of excellence in an organization, product or service. Quality is an essential factor
that differentiates an organization from its competitors. Undertaking quality
initiatives will lead to superior products or services which meet and exceed
customer expectations, increase revenues and productivity for the organization.
Quality has become a global priority as many organizations have benefited from
its practices. The standard follows the common structure provided by Annex
SL. According to Annex L, a Management
System Standard should follow the structure:
I.
Scope
II.
Normative references
III.
Terms and definitions
IV.
Context of the organization
V.
Leadership
VI.
Planning
VII.
Support
VIII.
Operation
IX.
Performance evaluation
X.
Improvement
ISO
9001:2015 specifies requirements to plan, establish, implement, operate,
monitor, review, maintain and continually improve a documented management
system used to manage quality. The requirements set in ISO 9001:2015 are
generic, flexible and useful to all types of organizations. Thus, this ISO
Management System Standard can be aligned and integrated with other Management
Systems such as Energy Management, Business Continuity Management and other
management systems, due to their similar structure.
Conclusion:
The last section of ISO 9001:2015 requires companies to determine and identify
opportunities for improvement. ISO 9001:2015 brings quality management and
continual improvement into the heart of an organization. The new standard is an
opportunity for organizations to align their strategic direction with their
quality management system and means that it can be used to help enhance and
monitor the performance of an organization. It may also be made, with respect to the continuous
improvement, maintenance system with a view to reduce downtime, evaluation of
processes and vendor rating exercise, that majority of the certified companies
follow these practices.
User questions & answers