QMS is a set of activities, policy, & procedures to continually direct and control an organization into excellence (improving the effectiveness and efficiency of its performance)
These activities interact and are affected by being in the system, so the isolation and study of each one in detail will not necessarily lead to an understanding of the system as a whole.
Setting, improving, and controlling the quality of products and services is depend on defining the processes, which will result the desired quality, rather than on detecting defective products or services after they have been produced.
The benefits of a QMS
A fully documented QMS will ensure that two important requirements are met:
The customers’ requirements – confidence in the ability of the organization to deliver the desired product and service consistently meeting their needs and expectations.
The organization’s requirements – both internally and externally, and at an optimum cost with efficient use of the available resources – materials, human, technology and information.
These requirements can only be truly met if objective evidence is provided, in the form of information and data, to support the system activities, from the ultimate supplier to the ultimate customer.
A QMS enables an organization to achieve the goals and objectives set out in its policy and strategy. It provides consistency and satisfaction in terms of methods, materials, equipment, etc, and interacts with all activities of the organization, beginning with the identification of customer requirements and ending with their satisfaction, at every transaction interface.
Management systems are needed in all areas of activity, whether large or small businesses, manufacturing, service or public sector. A good QMS will: