What is a Quality Management System?
A quality management system ( QMS ) is a structured framework of policies, processes, procedures and resources that enables companies to ensure that their products or services consistently meet established requirements and customer expectations.
In simple terms, a QMS helps organize the company to produce quality results in a repeatable, measurable and improvable way.
According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), quality management is not only limited to error control, but also encompasses customer satisfaction, operational efficiency and continuous improvement.
The most widely recognized and widely applied standard in the world is the ISO 9001which provides a solid basis for designing a scalable and adaptable QMS for any industry or size of organization.
Main components of a QMS
Principles of quality management according to ISO
The ISO 9001 standard is based on seven fundamental principles that guide any quality management system:
- Customer focus.
- Clear leadership.
- Commitment of people.
- Process-based approach.
- Continuous improvement.
- Evidence-based decision making.
- Stakeholder relationship management
Benefits of a quality system in the company
Adopting a QMS brings strategic and operational benefits:
In addition, implementing a QMS helps to align quality with the strategic objectives of the business, preventing it from being isolated in a single department.
Digitalization and the future of the QMS
Digital transformation is redefining how quality management systems are applied:
