What is a QMS (Quality Management System)?

A quality management system consists of a number of processes aimed at efficient and accurate delivery of a value proposition to a customer, client, or end-user. The objective is to meet customer expectations and achieve satisfaction.

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A Little More on What is Quality Management Systems

A Quality Management System must usually align all aspects of the delivery of the companys value proposition (including procedural aspect and strategic objectives) through its policies, operational procedures, leadership and motivational methods, resource allocation, and distribution of information. A Quality Management Process is one element of a QMS. Each process should be documented (and perhaps certified) with regard to how it contributes to the overall system of quality management. The idea of continuous improvement regards how these various processes are carried out. Examples of processes might include:

• Ordering
• Planning
• Measurement
• Audit
• Problem Solving
• Compliance Activities
• Training

Quality Management is generally thought to include:

• Accurate and consistent processes and outcomes in the delivery of a value proposition;
  • Note: This generally employs testing and verification through statistical methods, such as random sampling.
• Resource allocation (including human capital management and output standards);
  • Note: Human capital management general concerns motivation, cooperation, synergies, communication, problem signaling, and continuous improvement cycles.
• Sustainability and Transparency (including repeatable process and adequate disclosure of information to company stakeholders).

The most well-known quality management system is the ISO 9000 family of quality standards. It is an international standard adopted widely in most industrial countries. The elements common to the quality standards include:

• Quality objectives
• Quality manual
• Organizational structureand responsibilities
• Data management
• Processes including purchasing
• Product quality leading tocustomer satisfaction
• Continuous improvementincludingcorrective and preventive action
• Quality instrument
• Document control

Academic Research on Quality Management System

• Implementation of aquality management system(QMS) according to the ISO 9000 family in a Greek small-sized winery: A case study, Aggelogiannopoulos, D. R. O. S. I. N. O. S., Drosinos, E. H., & Athanasopoulos, P. (2007).Food control,18(9), 1077-1085. This article reviews the ISO 9000 standards to determine the planning and implementation requirements of a quality management system (QMS) for a small winery based in Paros Island. It also examines the challenges faced when implementing this QMS, the cost elements as well as its documentation.
• Meeting customers requirements with ISO auditquality management system(QMS) performance and organizational culture assessment, Mo-Ching, S. Y. (2011).African Journal of Business Management,5(9), 3497-3503. This paper assesses the likelihood of utilizing ISO 9001:2008 quality management system audit to explore the organizational culture and business ethics. It also performs a multiple regression analysis with an important linear relationship between quality and organizational behavior, workplace integration with business ethics and staff attitude. This paper concludes that an organization's culture, as well as their commitment to business ethics alongside system performance, can be understood using the ISO audit.
• INTEGRATION OFQUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM(QMS) AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS)A STUDY IN INDIAN AUTO, Jagannathan, L. (2008).Serbian Journal of Management, 3 (2), 127,132. This paper uses a study on the Indian auto component industry to present an integrated approach for better competitiveness that is based on the QS 9000 Quality Management System and ISO 14001. It explains how these systems were implemented by the local component manufacturers to aid them in producing world-class components when the Original Equipment Manufacturers set up shop in the Indian market.
• POTENTIAL OF INTEGRATION QUALITY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM IN CONSTRUCTION (QLASSIC) WITH ISO 9001QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM(QMS)., Ali, M. C. (2014. International Journal for Quality Research,8(1). This study examines the existing relationship between practice of ISO 9001 QMS principles with QLASSIC performance and also discusses the possible business outcomes for ISO 9001 certified contractors who can maintain an excellent QLASSIC score. It explains the QLASSIC score as a quality performance assessment tool designed to measure the quality level of a construction project using standards contained in CIS 7:2006. The results of this study are expected to improve the level of quality performance in the construction industry.
• Introduction of quality circles and aquality management system(QMS) in a centralized clinic, Isemer, F. E., Schmidt, K. J., Heuser, U., & Kirchgesser, G. (1996). InLangenbecks Archiv fur Chirurgie. Supplement. Kongressband. Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Chirurgie. Kongress(Vol. 113, pp. 638-640). This paper explains the measures taken to improve the quality of management and patient's outcome in a centralized clinic which include the development of a quality management system based on the DIN EN ISO 9001.A couple of studies were performed to find out the internal and external acceptance of the clinic. Also, various quality circles and an external quality control system with three tracer diagnoses was done.
• A Study on the Influence of ISO 9001Quality Management System(QMS) on Employee's Satisfaction, Lee, H. S., Choi, Y. J., & Kim, Y. R. (2007).Journal of the Korean Society for Quality Management,35(4), 16-25. This article introduces a new framework on quality management system, employee satisfaction as well as employee performance of academic staff in private higher education institutions to shed light on the effectiveness and importance of quality management system in these institutions. It also discusses the role of academic staff in education and how their good performance will result in the performance of higher education institutions.
• Effectiveness ofQuality Management System(QMS) on Construction Projects, Neyestani, B. (2016). This paper evaluates the effects of the implementation of QMS on the primary factors of construction projects in Metro Manila, Philippines. An extensive review on a wide range of literature is conducted to provide an in-depth understanding on the quality management system, determine the characteristics of the primary factors of construction as well as the results of factual studies involving the effects of QMS on construction projects.
• Evaluation ofQuality Management System(QMS) in Tanzania Construction Companies, Shio, T. (2014).Journal of Building and Land Development,17(4), 75-87. This article proposes several ways of improving quality excellence after evaluating the Quality Management System in Tanzania Construction Companies using a survey of 22 randomly selected construction companies in Dar es Salaam through questionnaires and interviews. Results of the study prove that the top management pays little to no attention when setting quality policy, establishing quality objectives and when informing the employees on the benefit of meeting the customer requirements.
• Enablers and barriers of implementing ISO 9001-Quality Management System(QMS) in the service sector in Sri Lanka, Jayasundara, A. J. M. D. C., & Rajini, P. A. D. (2014). This study utilizes an extensive literature review and an expert survey to identify the enablers and barriers facing the implementation of ISO 9001 QMS in various service sector organizations in Sri Lanka. The results of this study suggest that ISO 9001 is essential in improving the marketing, financial and operational performance of service sector organizations and for it to achieve its maximum output, steps should be taken to eliminate the barriers and strengthen the enablers.
• A study on optimization of nonconformities management cost in thequality management system(QMS) of small-sized enterprise of the construction industry, Nikolay, I. (2016). Procedia Engineering,153, 228-231. This paper addresses the challenges faced when forming an adequate corrective action plan to fix the identified nonconformities. It also explains the original ranking algorithm of corrective actions which is aimed at reducing the possible costs of eliminating the potential nonconforming products especially if the funds for corrective actions are limited.