What is a QMS?

Quality Management Systems (QMS)

A QMS is defined as a formalized system that documents processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving an organization's quality policies and objectives. A QMS helps direct an organization’s activities to meet customer and regulatory requirements and improve its effectiveness and efficiency on a continuous basis.

Standards such as ISO 9001:2015 and API Q1 9th Edition are international standard that specifies requirements for quality management systems, with ISO 9001:2015 being the most prominent approach to a QMS.

All QMS systems, no matter the standard, follow the following seven quality management principles:

• QMP 1 – Customer Focus
  Meet and exceed customer expectations

• QMP 2 – Leadership
  Provide purpose, direction and engagement.

• QMP 3 – Engagement of People
  Recognition, empowerment and enhancement of skills and knowledge.

• QMP 4 – Process Approach
  Understand processes to optimize performance.

• QMP 5 – Improvement
  To maintain current performance and to create new opportunities.

• QMP 6 – Evidence-based Decision Making
  Facts, evidence and data analysis for decision making.

• QMP 7 – Relationship Management
  Manage relationships with interested parties to optimize performance.

Benefits of a QMS

Implementing a quality management system affects the entirety of an organization's performance. Benefits of a documented quality management system include:

• Meeting the customer’s requirements, which works to instill confidence in the organization, which in turn leading to more customers and more repeat business

• Meeting the organization's requirements, which ensures compliance with regulations and products and services requirements in the most cost- and resource-efficient manner, creating room for expansion and growth

These benefits offer additional advantages, including:

• Defining, improving, and controlling processes

• Reducing waste and costs

• Preventing mistakes

• Lowering costs related to rework and warranty

• Facilitating and identifying training opportunities

• Engaging staff

• Setting organization-wide direction

• Communicating a readiness to produce consistent results for all products and services