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Engineering Education, Resources and Standards
News Release from: BSI British Standards
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 24 November 2005
Standard offers flexible approach to
quality
A newly revised international standard provides guidelines for establishing quality plans.
Quality is broadly defined as a degree of excellence - the standard to which something is fit for its purpose In a business context, a quality management system (QMS) is a system that outlines the policies and procedures necessary to improve and control the various processes that will ultimately lead to improved business performance
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 16 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Therefore, quality is vital to the survival of every enterprise and should be an integral part of every business.
Quality management is achieved through a chain of controlled processes, subject to continual improvement.
The chain starts with top management expressing a firm commitment to quality.
A specialist quality manager can enable others to achieve quality by providing encouragement, leadership, training, tools, techniques and performance data.
Everyone must pay attention to quality, from the chief executive to the shop-floor across all functions in an enterprise.
It is as important for support staff to pay attention to quality as production staff.
BS ISO 10005:2005 "Quality management systems: Guidelines for quality plans" is the newly revised International Standard that has been brought into line with BS EN ISO9001:2000.
It now reflects the process approach, customer focus and the change from quality assurance to quality management as characterised in BS EN ISO9001:2000.
BSI's David Adamson explains: "BS ISO10005 provides businesses with guidance on how to formulate a quality plan, using examples to show how to prepare and present the plan".
"It is suitable where an established quality management system is already in place, or as an independent management activity".
"The standard offers a flexible approach to quality and is written so that management can decide which format best suits their business".
Among the benefits of establishing a quality plan are the increased confidence that requirements will be met, greater assurance that processes are in control and the motivation it can give to those involved.
It may also give insight into opportunities for improvement.
BS ISO10005 can be used regardless of whether an organisation's management system conforms to ISO 9001.
The quality plan can be applied to processes, product, projects or contracts, any product category (hardware, software, processed materials and services) and any industry.
The price is GBP 92, or GBP 46 to BSI Subscribing Members.
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