"Quality"

 

The term

"Quality" has a relative meaning.

Quality is the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs.


Quality Management Principles are a set of fundamental beliefs, norms, rules and values that are accepted as true and can be used as a basis for quality management.
ISO 9000, ISO 9001 and related ISO Quality Management Standards are based on seven QMPs.


The Seven Quality Management Principles are:

Principle 1 – Customer Focus
The primary focus of quality management is to meet customer requirements and to strive to exceed customer expectations.

Principle 2 – Leadership
Leaders at all levels establish unity of purpose and direction and create conditions in which people are engaged in achieving the organization’s quality objectives.

Principle 3 – Engagement of People
Competent, empowered and engaged people at all levels throughout the organization are essential to enhance its capability to create and deliver value.

Principle 4 – Process Approach
Consistent and predictable results are achieved more effectively and efficiently when activities are understood and managed as interrelated processes that function as a coherent system.

Principle 5 – Improvement
Successful organizations have an ongoing focus on improvement.

Principle 6 – Evidence-based Decision Making
Decisions based on the analysis and evaluation of data and information are more likely to produce desired results.

Principle 7 – Relationship Management
For sustained success, an organization manages its relationships with interested parties, such as suppliers.


These principles are not listed in priority order.
The relative importance of each principle will vary from organization to organization and can be expected to change over time.