The Quality Management Principles

With growing global competition, Quality Management is becoming increasingly important to the leadership and management of all organizations. Quality Management Principles provide understanding of and guidance on the application of Quality Management. By applying following eight Quality Management Principles, organizations will produce benefits for customers, owners, people, suppliers and society at large.

The standard could be found at ISO.

Principle 1 - Customer-Focused Organization

Organizations depend on their customers and therefore should understand current and future customer needs, meet customer requirements, and strive to exceed customer expectations.

Principle 2 - Leadership

Leaders establish unity of purpose and direction of organization. They should create and maintain the internal environment in which people can become fully involved in achieving the organization's objectives.

Principle 3 - Involvement of People

People at all levels are the essence of an organization and their full involvement enables their abilities to be used for the organization's benefit.

Principle 4 - Process Approach

A desired result is achieved more efficiently when related resources and activities are managed as a process.

Principle 5 - System Approach to Management

Identifying, understanding, and managing a system of interrelated processes for a given objective improves the organization's effectiveness and efficiency.

Principle 6 - Continual Improvement

Continual improvement should be a permanent objective of the organization.

Principle 7 - Factual Approach to Decision Making

Effective decisions and actions are based on the analysis of data and information.

Principle 8 - Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationships

An organization and its suppliers are independent, and a mutually beneficial relationship enhances the ability to create value.

Definition of Quality Management Principle:

A comprehensive and fundamental rule or belief, for leading and operating an organization, aimed at continually improving performance over the long term by focusing on customers while addressing the needs of all stakeholders.

This standard was developed by using the ISO TC176 on Quality Management and Quality Assurance consensus process.

This Standard will: a) Provide a clear statement of the eight Quality Management Principles (QMP's) and place them in a business environment/framework b) Provide management with an understanding of the benefits for their organisation when using the QMP's. c) Provide an understanding of the QMP's that will facilitate a successful management culture for users of the ISO9000 Family of standards.

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