Author

IIA-Australia

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Extract/Description

Quality management systems are designed to effect standardised output of products and services by mandating consistent processes. It is often a prerequisite in large procurement activities for bidders to be ISO 9001 certified. While an ISO 9001 quality management system will bring consistency that should continue indefinitely, effective management of the system is reliant on people.

Key Points

1. Quality management systems are designed to produce consistent outcome at consistent cost. A critical component is monitoring of customer needs and desires so the product or service may be changed to accommodate or pre-empt changing customer requirements.
2. It is common for quality management systems to be neglected, with a flurry of activity to bring documentation and supporting evidence up-to-date just before audits. This is not how an ISO 9001 quality management system is supposed to operate.

Relevant Industries

Level of Assumed Knowledge